Locked Out of TikTok

Despite getting a 75-day reprieve, TikTok appears to be feeling the effect of Congress’s effort to limit its usage. The app experienced a sharp decline in the traffic, and ByteDance reported as much as a 95% drop, according to a blog by Cloudflare.  

Although services have been restored, TikTok is still not available to download in all U.S. app stores. U.S. users who still have the app downloaded cannot receive updates for the app, make in-app purchases or buy new subscriptions. Anyone who doesn’t reside in the U.S. but is visiting has the same restrictions.  

To combat the inability to download TikTok, there have been reports that people have begun to sell phones or tablets with the app already installed. Listings for devices with TikTok still installed have emerged on eBay. One eBay listing included an iPhone 16 Pro Max that is priced at $50,000.

“The people selling these phones are honestly smart, especially since they can just buy a new phone with the money,” Hannah Prince, a sophomore economics major, said.

Some TCU students find these measures to be extreme.

“Honestly, I'd say goodbye to TikTok or at least for now until it comes back if it doesn’t then too bad,” Joel Dougay, a senior double majoring in chemistry and psychology, said.  

“I only use TikTok because of my friends so I wouldn’t go this far to use it,” Kshitij Pandey, a senior finance and accounting double major, said. “I prefer Instagram Reels.”

The Meta platform is used by 50% of adults in the U.S., compared to 33% that use TikTok and 85% that use YouTube, according to Pew Research.

Some users are resorting to virtual private networks, or VPNs. Downloading a VPN can connect a U.S. phone to TikTok through servers in countries without restrictions. 

The number of VPN search terms was high in states like Alaska and West Virginia, according to Tom's Guide, a website focused on reviewing technology.

In efforts to keep TikTok available in the U.S., some investors have toyed with the idea of buying the app. Among others, “Shark Tank” co-host Kevin O’Leary offered $20 billion in cash to ByteDance, though his offer is well below estimates of the app’s value.

TikTok is worth up to $50 billion without the algorithm and $200 billion with the algorithm, according to Dan Ives, a Wedbush analyst. Microsoft, Elon Musk and Jimmy Donaldson, or Mr. Beast, have all been mentioned as potential buyers.

The app, which is most popular with 18-24-year-olds, has been characterized as a national security risk. Congress authorized a ban of the app, arguing that since it ByteDance is a Chinese company, it could be used by the Chinese government to spy on American users. 

With the reprieve ending on April 5, it is unknown whether TikTok will remain available for U.S. users, but the app will continue to be the subject of debate and disruption.