Recent reports have revealed that popular social media platform TikTok is allegedly bypassing the App Store in order to save money on commissions for in-app purchases. According to sources, some users are being offered the option to purchase coins used for tipping digital creators through TikTok’s website, rather than through the app itself.
Users who are presented with this option are encouraged to “recharge” via the website, tiktok.com, in order to save on in-app service fees. This option was reportedly displayed to a user who had previously purchased a large amount of coins.
Payments for coins on the website can be made using Apple Pay, debit or credit cards. Users are reminded that purchasing directly through TikTok will save them around 25% with a lower third-party service fee. However, it appears that TikTok may be violating Apple’s rules by not abiding by the exceptions allowed for adding website links within the app.
This method of bypassing in-app purchases is reminiscent of the situation faced by Fortnite in 2020 when the game was banned from the App Store for a similar interface. This raises questions about potential consequences for TikTok if they continue to operate in this manner.
Adding to the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future in the U.S., a bill to ban the app has been signed into law by President Biden. However, the company plans to fight the ban in court, as it did under the previous administration. As the situation unfolds, users and creators on TikTok will be watching closely to see how this controversy plays out.
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