Following TikTok’s removal from Apple’s U.S. App Store on January 19, 2025, due to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, iPhones with the app pre-installed are commanding exorbitant prices on eBay.
This phenomenon mirrors past instances. Such as the 2014 surge in iPhone prices. Devices with the game Flappy Bird installed were sold at high premiums after its removal from the App Store.
President Trump’s executive order postponed the TikTok ban’s enforcement. The app still remains inaccessible for new downloads. Prompting users to seek alternative methods to access the platform.
