TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop
Type of site
Headquarters
OwnerTikTok
IndustryE-commerce
ParentByteDance
URLwww.tiktok.com/shop
LaunchedSeptember 2023; 1 year ago (2023-09)

TikTok Shop is an e-commerce feature of the video hosting service TikTok. Officially launched in September 2023,[1] the feature enables users interested in starting a business and generating income to upload their curated products on TikTok for others to discover and purchase.[2] Daily sales averaged approximately US$7 million in October 2023.[2]

History

[edit]

In October 2020, TikTok announced its partnership with Shopify for a feature called TikTok: For Business. This collaboration laid the groundwork for the eventual launch of TikTok Shop.[3]

In November 2022, ByteDance commenced beta testing of the platform in the United Kingdom and several Southeast Asian countries. In December 2022, Amazon announced the release of Amazon Inspire, a platform resembling TikTok Shop, in a bid to compete with TikTok itself.[4]

In September 2023,[1] ByteDance announced the launch of TikTok Shop globally, which was notably influenced by Amazon Inspire.[5][6]

Criticism and controversies

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Since its launch, TikTok Shop has encountered issues related to misinformation about products, reviews made by generative artificial intelligence to promote certain products, review bombs, and instances of scamming.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b Napolitano, Elizabeth (12 September 2023). "TikTok officially debuts shopping platform, TikTok Shop, to U.S. consumers". CBS News. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b Klein, Emma (8 February 2024). "TikTok Shop is taking on Amazon — one viral video at a time". NPR. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ^ Perez, Sarah (24 August 2021). "TikTok expands Shopify partnership, pilots TikTok Shopping in US, UK and Canada". TechCrunch. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  4. ^ Perez, Sarah (8 December 2022). "Amazon launches Inspire, a TikTok-like shopping feed that supports both photos and videos". TechCrunch. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  5. ^ Korn, Jennifer (12 September 2023). "TikTok Shop is now open for business". CNN. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  6. ^ Mehta, Ivan (12 September 2023). "TikTok Shop officially launches in the US". TechCrunch. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  7. ^ Earley, Brigitt (17 February 2024). "Is It Safe to Buy From TikTok Shop? Here's What Happened When We Ordered". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved 3 May 2024.