In a bid to bypass restrictions, many people in the United States are increasingly using virtual private networks (VPNs) to access TikTok, a popular social media platform that faces bans in certain countries. The surge in VPN usage comes alongside TikTok's release of a download kit, designed to facilitate Android users in sideloading the app onto their devices. As a result, search engine queries for "VPN" reached unprecedented levels last month, according to Google data.
Apple's 30% commission on apps using its store, purportedly for consumer protection, has prompted users to seek alternative methods to download TikTok. Industry experts suggest these trends underscore the challenges in enforcing a ban, should one be implemented. Sideloading remains more prevalent on Android devices compared to iPhones, yet companies like Signulous report that 120,000 users have utilized their services for iPhone installations.
Another company, AppDB, has seen nearly 95,000 TikTok downloads since the ban, with membership numbers doubling. Operating in a legal grey area, these unofficial app shops sign customers up for software developer accounts. Neil Pomperleau from AppDB reported more than 2,000 downloads per hour at peak times.
The legal landscape surrounding TikTok remains complex. An executive order by former President Donald Trump allows the platform's use in the US, despite a Supreme Court decision upholding legislation that could see its sale or ban. Meanwhile, dozens of YouTube guides on sideloading TikTok have garnered hundreds of thousands of views in recent weeks.
In Europe, new laws have forced Apple to allow competition from alternative app stores since March last year, promoting consumer choice. Dewayne Puckett, a US user of TikTok, described downloading the app through sideloading as "an experience, but the app works like normal."
Neil Pomperleau highlighted the benefits of this workaround for his company:
"One of the most popular apps in the world can only be sideloaded in the US so it's been a good thing for us with record traffic to our site and a spike in customers."
Aleksei Borodin noted the persistence of consumer demand:
"People will always find a way to get what they want."
TikTok appears to trust political assurances that the platform will remain operational in the US and has not taken steps to prevent sideloading. The current situation reflects broader regulatory challenges and consumer behavior in the digital age.