TikTok Shop was going to be the next big thing. A potential ban could change that
CNNCNN — Aakaanksh Autade was iffy on TikTok Shop, TikTok’s in-app shopping feature, when it launched last year. “When you mix in commerce with our favorite source of entertainment, then we’re going to spend all our money there.” TikTok Shop’s reliance on user-generated content allows consumers to hear from voices they trust. Courtesy Carrie Berk Social media strategist Keenya Kelly says that TikTok Shop is another avenue for content creators to make money on TikTok without having to leave the app. The thinking among viewers, she said, is that “if a makeup influencer is promoting a product on TikTok Shop, if she says it’s good, then it must be good.” TikTok users like Autade also say that the app’s focus on short-form videos gives it an edge over other social media platforms. “TikTok shop just seemed like a natural place for those dollars to be spent.” What would a TikTok ban mean for other social media retail platforms?