TikTok allegedly found to be bypassing Apple App Store commissions

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TikTok, the wildly-popular social media platform, is reportedly found to be circumventing Apple’s App Store commission. The ByteDance-owned app is allegedly presenting a subset of its users with an alternative method to purchase 'coins’, the digital currency used for tipping creators on the platform.

 

Traditionally, these coins are procured via in-app purchases, a process that mandates a 30% commission fee paid to Apple. However, TikTok seems to be testing a new approach, directing users to their website to buy coins, as seen in screenshots revealed by X user David Tesler. This innovative strategy could potentially save TikTok a significant amount in commission fees.

 

 

The new option appears to be selectively available, possibly targeting high-spenders or a specific group of users. Users who choose this method are redirected to tiktok.com/coin, where they can make purchases using various payment methods, including Apple Pay. The website highlights that direct purchases with TikTok could “save the service fee.”

 

This move by TikTok raises questions about its compliance with Apple’s App Store Guidelines. While Apple did revise its guidelines in January to allow developers to link to alternative payment systems in their apps, developers opting for this are still required to pay Apple a commission.

 

Will this bold move set a precedent for other apps to follow? Or will it lead to a showdown between TikTok and Apple? Share your views in the comments below.

 

 

Read more:

• https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/30/screenshots-suggest-tiktok-is-circumventing-apple-app-store-commissions/
• https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/30/tiktok-app-store-commission/
• https://www.macrumors.com/2024/04/30/tiktok-app-store-rules-tips/
• https://www.techtimes.com/articles/304148/20240430/tiktok-coins-direct-purchases-violating-app-store-rules

 

 

Image: Oasisamuel | Dreamstime.com