TikTok experienced only a brief disruption, going offline for half a day before resuming service for U.S. users following President Trump’s call for a 75-day suspension of the ban. Despite this, the platform has yet to return to app stores, as the company and potential buyers—ranging from Kevin O’Leary to Elon Musk to an AI firm—navigate ongoing legal and business negotiations.
This situation has left TikTok users, who either deleted the app previously or recently acquired new phones, unable to access the app through traditional means. Many have resorted to using the desktop version, but others have sought alternatives, and some opportunistic entrepreneurs have found a way to profit from the app’s absence.
The New York Times reported the emergence of “unlocked with TikTok” phone listings on resale platforms like Poshmark and eBay. These listings are priced outrageously high, with some reaching thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. For instance, one eBay listing advertises an “iPhone 14 Pro UNLOCKED! W/ TikTok” for $3,000, despite unlocked iPhone 14 models typically retailing at Walmart or Best Buy for $300 to $500. On Poshmark, an iPhone 13 Pro Max featuring TikTok and CapCut is listed for $3,500.
Some listings are clearly tongue-in-cheek, such as a cracked iPhone on Facebook Marketplace boasting “TikTok never deleted,” initially priced at $30,000 and now reduced to $10,000. Whether anyone is actually buying these overpriced devices remains uncertain, as no buyers have come forward to confirm purchases. If you happen to be one of them, we’d love to hear from you. Otherwise, a brand-new iPhone 16—sans TikTok—is available starting at $799.
