As the ban on TikTok is implemented in the US, a rather curious trend has started to surface. Used smartphones and tablets, which have the app preinstalled, are now selling at outrageous prices. eBay to Facebook Marketplace is where people are trying to sell their devices hoping to make money off of this sudden scarcity of the app, with some going as high as $50,000. However experts say there are grave risks involved in this digital gold rush.
Although there was a short-lived executive order postponing enforcement, TikTok is still technically banned in the United States. Under U.S. law, The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act bars app stores and hosting services from offering or updating the application. Users with the software already installed can continue accessing it, while no new downloads are possible—which creates an illegal market for devices preloaded with it.
Markets sell expensive phones and tablets as TikTok Ban Looms in US
Online marketplaces are now flooded with listings featuring iPhones, Android devices, and tablets boasting TikTok access. While many of these listings are speculative, completed sales show that some buyers are willing to pay a premium. However, security experts caution that purchasing pre-owned devices, particularly from unknown sellers, could be a costly mistake.
Ryan McGrady, a computer scientist at the University of Massachusetts, cautions that such devices may open the door to a hacker’s paradise. “A phone that hasn’t been wiped properly could have spyware, malware, or even backdoors installed,” he adds. “If scammers were able to exploit the desperation for a simple mobile game like Flappy Bird, imagine the risks associated with an app as influential as TikTok.”
Indeed, the situation is similar to the 2013 Flappy Bird phenomenon where the game’s sudden removal created a market for devices with the app installed. Many buyers unknowingly downloaded malware-ridden clones, which compromised security and financial fraud.
There is the resale market, but for many TikTok users, it is about exploring alternative ways of bypassing the ban, using VPNs and jailbreaking methods. Cybersecurity experts, however, warn that these workarounds expose users to phishing scams and digital surveillance.
While negotiations with tech giants like Microsoft may eventually bring TikTok back to the U.S., the frenzy surrounding banned apps draws attention to a broader issue—digital dependency and the vulnerability of users when access is suddenly revoked. Until a resolution is reached, buyers should think twice before investing in a secondhand device just for TikTok.
Also, see: Which countries have banned TikTok? Check out the complete list