Americans Are Overpaying on Ebay for Devices with TikTok Because TikTok is Undownloadable

 

Although TikTok rapidly resumed its service in the US, US users have been unable to download the App from the App Store. Meanwhile, the US government continues TikTok's acquisition talks.

 

US lawmakers passed a law in 2024 requiring TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to either sell TikTok to a US company to preserve the app's operations or have the app banned from the US. After the ban took effect on Sunday (Jan .19), TikTok suspended its services in the US. However, on Monday (Jan. 20), President Donald Trump signed an executive order delaying the ban for 75 days. TikTok resumed service after Trump assured Bytedance and its partners would not be penalized for continuing operations. Yet, TikTok has not returned to the app store.

 

As of Tuesday (Jan. 21), TikTok was unavailable for download in Apple $AAPL and Google app stores, as are other apps from Bytedance.

 

Analysts said TikTok's inaccessibility could be because Google and Apple expected additional protections before passing around a ban that penalizes companies that host or distribute the app.

 

Meanwhile, the hunt for TikTok's buyer continues. Trump said on Tuesday that he was open to Tesla $TSLA CEO Elon Musk acquiring the app if he was willing to do so.

 

The leader of the House Select Committee on China John Moolenaar discussed with businessmen Kevin O'Leary and Frank McCourt about a possible purchase of TikTok. McCourt's Project Liberty consortium has formally made a $20 billion takeover offer, with O'Leary's effort.

 

China also showed an open attitude about TikTok's takeover deals as China's foreign ministry said on Monday that Bytedance independently decided its operations and deals.

 

Currently, people who own devices with TikTok have been selling them on eBay $EBAY to people who cannot use TikTok. Devices' prices are reportedly up to $50,000.

 

#america #socialmedia