TikTok? Shop and the Age of Persuasive Consumption

Persuasive Design, Overconsumption, Risks of Unchecked E-commerce

The Problem is not Simply TikTok? Shop

Is TikTok Shop simply the new QVC?

Asking "Is A simply B?" is not a useful question: the answer is always "no," unless the question is not worth entertaining at all. So perhaps a reframing here would be valuable. Why do we care whether the particular webserver involved belongs to ByteDance or Amazon? "Persuasive design," that is, technology designed to conscript human attention rather than assist human thought, added to commission-selling produces some predictable consequences. They are predictable enough, in fact, that we should be able to communicate them to the reader in a couple hundred words. What thinking should follow? That's really the subject of the essay.

From my point of view, it seems fairly straightforward that the problem isn't TikTok. It's the smartassphone. This particular way of using computers plainly results in a decrease of the quality of human thought and creates a cascade of undesirable social outcomes, of which you happen to be discussing one. Knowing as I do that replacing this combination of hardware and software with other hardware and software designs (that already exist, are universally available, and at much lower cost) will immediately eliminate all these undesirable consequences and result in increases in human ability to learn, think, and create, makes the path forward clear and easy. Why not take it?

Is TikTok? Shop simply the new QVC?

-- By HyewonKim - 29 Nov 2024

Introduction

I remember flipping through the TV channels looking for Nickelodeon or Disney Channel, I would stumble on a channel with two white women selling the most random products. Sometimes it would be really ugly crystal jewelry that looked like it fell off an old chandelier. Other times it would be a set of towels that you could easily get at Bed Bath & Beyond and not have to wait for shipping. I have not watched QVC or any other channel selling products on TV in many years, but flipping through TikTok? I landed on something eerily similar. Two girls live streaming and selling prom dresses from Windsor. It was much louder and more chaotic compared to the shopping channels I saw on TV and had an interactive element with people writing messages in the chat so that the two girls could see and answer questions.

It was particularly surprising to learn that TikTok? Shop (the e-commerce aspect of the platform) is expected to have $17.5 billion in sales when earlier this year Instagram got rid of its shopping tab on its app. But what makes shopping on TikTok? so appealing? One of the reasons why links to products are so prevalent throughout TikTok? is that anyone can become a seller, and earn commission from viewers buying a product through their video. The interactive aspect of live sales also differentiates it from Instagram’s shopping experience. Viewers are able to ask questions and see the products be worn or touched on screen compared to only being able to see pictures on Instagram.

While TikTok? Shop may seem like an improvement from previous attempts at integrating social media and e-commerce, the dangers lie in its promotion of overconsumption, targeting of young viewers, and lack of quality control.

Dangerous spending habits and lack of quality control

Unlike traditional TV shopping channels where you have to be at home and decide to sit and watch QVC, TikTok? Shop can go everywhere with you. On the subway, eating lunch in the cafeteria, or in bed trying to fall asleep, TikTok? users are constantly exposed to videos with products linked or live streams enticing them to buy something they don’t necessarily need. The products promoted are not necessities like toilet paper or soap, they are selling viral Labubu keychains for $40 and half-pound bags of Swedish candy for $20. Opening TikTok? is a constant temptation for new, trendy items you don not need. This is particularly problematic for young viewers, who may lack the financial literacy or self-restraint to resist these frequent shopping triggers.

The integration of shopping into an addictive platform raises broader concerns about its impact on mental health and financial well-being. While the average shopper on TikTok? may only be spending $15 to $20 per product, the normalization of more frequent, smaller purchases makes it easier for users to lose track of their spending. For some, the immediate gratification of buying a trendy product or participating in a live shopping event can become a harmful coping mechanism, leading to financial strain and unhealthy shopping habits.

Another issue of TikTok? Shop is the lack of quality control. Unlike traditional retail channels, where products undergo stricter vetting, TikTok? Shop is rife with third-party sellers. While some offer legitimate goods, others push low-quality or counterfeit items. Buying a counterfeit Labubu keychain may leave you disappointed. However, the real danger comes from fake skincare or food products that pose bigger health risks.

Conclusion

The rapid integration of e-commerce into a highly engaging app like TikTok? underscores the need for greater consumer awareness and regulation. TikTok? Shop represents the future of shopping, but it also highlights the importance of balancing innovation with ethical considerations. For users, this means being mindful of their spending and consumption habits. For TikTok? , it means ensuring transparency, curating reliable sellers, and prioritizing user well-being over profits. In the age of mobile-first shopping, TikTok? Shop is more than a modernized QVC. It’s a reflection of the shift in our spending habits and the blending of entertainment and commerce. As we navigate this new landscape, it is crucial to ask ourselves whether the convenience and fun of TikTok? Shop are worth the potential risks to our wallets, our attention spans, and our sense of control over our own consumption.