TikTok made me buy it: The newest trend blowing up social media

TikTok teleshopping: How this new social media shopping feature is changing internet commerce

This is an image of the TikTok logo on a phone
The shopping feature on TikTok is gleaning a lot of attention. Photo: 8268513 / Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/tiktok-social-media-app-tik-tok-5323006/)

Launched in December 2021, you may have noticed a new live shopping feature on your TikTok For You Page (FYP).

Like most people, I was pretty skeptical at first. But what actually is it?

Do you remember those teleshopping channels you used to browse as a kid when there was really nothing else to watch?

Well, it seems that the social media platform has taken that idea and modernised it.

With the #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt tag garnering over 12.3 billion views, it’s no question that the site is proving to be influential.

What is livestream shopping?

Just like traditional teleshopping, TikTok live shopping is a livestream with many of your favourite TikTokers demonstrating and explaining a variety of products.

Usually, the livestreams are broadcast on the account @tiktokshop_uk and are hosted by many famous influencers such as Katylee Bailey (@k4tyl33) and The Folding Lady (@thefoldinglady).

@tiktokshop_uk

@Katylee Bailey🌹 showing us #WhatsHot 🔥 👏 #TikTokShop #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt

♬ Sugarsweet – Zach Sorgen

The page contains a ‘shop’ feature that, once clicked, takes you to a payment method for whichever product you may be interested in.

Almost anything can be found on the site, from £1 multicolour water bottles to high-end make-up products.

Often the influencers show the viewers how to use the products they are advertising and answer questions through on the live chat.

According to The Drum, livestream shopping is a huge part of online social shopping culture in China, and TikTok intends to increase the popularity of the service in the UK and US.

What makes this different to online shopping?

As a whole, the prices on the TikTok shopping account seem to be extremely discounted.

Things like a much cheaper version of the Dyson Airwrap can be found on their page, amongst many other things.

But it seems like this new feature on the social media site is still developing, with very mixed reviews to this point.

How do you feel about it? Let us know in the comments below or get in touch on social media!