TikTok has been one of the most popular social media apps for several years and has a daily active user base of over 50 million people. Despite the app’s popularity, it has faced criticism from the national security industry. Some argue that TikTok contains highly invasive malware that compromises the integrity of the devices it is installed on. Others suspect that the app transmits user data directly to the Chinese government. Many of these allegations have not been proven. Ultimately, however, experts agree that TikTok’s strict algorithm and device permission requirements are reason enough to raise some alarm bells. The US government has even taken legal action against the social media giant. There have been talks of banning the app unless its parent company ByteDance agrees to sell it to an American company.
So if the app is supposedly too dangerous to use as a simple platform for hosting short videos, it stands to reason that using TikTok Shop is even less safe. After all, it requires users’ credit card information to make purchases. To get to the bottom of this, let’s examine TikTok’s history when it comes to user safety and privacy and see what we can learn about TikTok Shop’s security. Feel free to bookmark this guide if you or someone you know is considering making purchases on the platform. As always, never give out your personal information or banking information to untrustworthy third-party sources. Without further ado, let’s dive in and see if we can prove TikTok Shop is safe.
What is the TikTok Shop?
For those who don’t know, TikTok Shop was first launched in November 2022. Users access the service directly from the video-sharing app. It allows certain users to start their own drop-shipping business. This way, users offer a curated selection of products to viewers from around the world. Many big-name brands and large companies also take advantage of TikTok Shop placements. However, the marketplace’s primary audience is individual sellers. Like Amazon, Alibaba, and other digital retailers, TikTok Shop lures consumers with lofty promises. Massive discounts, high percentage sales, and a wide selection of convincing luxury product knockoffs are part of the attraction. According to a February 2024 report by NPR, TikTok Shop generates approximately over $7 million in daily global sales. These sales add up to a staggering $17.5 billion by year’s end.
Since the store’s launch, TikTok has expanded its platform to feature plenty of ads and user-generated content highlighting specific products. Naturally, this is a means of enticing new consumers to give the retailer a chance. Users who have never made a purchase on the app before are offered massive discounts as an incentive to become a member. Naturally, the fact that the store is user-owned creates a lot of fear in many potential shoppers. The fear stems from the idea that they will be scammed if they provide their credit card details on the app. Additionally, users across the platform are raising concerns about potential misinformation about products. Recently, AI-generated review boosting is giving rise to a number of new issues and concerns.
Who can sell in the TikTok shop?
Like most other digital retailers, TikTok Shop only accepts listings from verified sellers. To be verified, the account holder must be at least 18 years old, and must also have a valid U.S. passport, driver’s license, or other legal document. Ideally, these barriers prevent scammers from flooding the sales platform. In return, the marketplace is free of faulty products and ghost listings, which adds to the safety and quality of the TikTok model. Unfortunately, some sellers have found ways to circumvent these policies and tried to scam TikTok users out of their money.
A quick look at the Reddit community r/Scams shows that many users express concerns about shopping through TikTok. Some claim that it is never safe to shop through social media advertising of any kind. While this is certainly a cautious approach, others can report positive experiences purchasing products and services they find on TikTok, Instagram, and a variety of other online outlets. TikTok cannot possibly regulate every single offer on the store. However, it seems that the decision-makers at ByteDance have made rigorous efforts to keep the marketplace safe for savvy consumers.
How to avoid fraud?
Unfortunately, there is no 100% surefire way to ensure safety when using digital marketplaces. Dishonest scammers tend to always be two steps ahead. There are basic precautions that can greatly minimize the chances of buying a junk product from TikTok’s store. TikTok’s Discover page, in particular, has numerous videos and FAQs on the subject to ensure users are not misled. The page includes advice that includes researching the retailer promoting the product, scouring ratings and reviews, and checking seals on orders that contain cosmetics or other potentially harmful substances, among other things.
As with any other purchase, the safest way to order from TikTok Shop is to use your own judgment and do your due diligence when scrolling through the app. The store’s integration with the app also allows users to post video reviews and testimonials right next to the product, so you can always check to see if anyone has made any major complaints before selecting “Buy Now.” Fortunately, TikTok does a good job of keeping its users’ credit card information secure, as it outsources payment processing to a third-party transaction platform. Of course, some experts recommend using PayPal, Venmo, or other digital channels to pay through the app, as these are easier to cancel and monitor than some credit card uses.
The final verdict
So it seems that there is no short and simple answer to the question “Is TikTok Shop safe?” If you are not afraid of making online purchases through sites like eBay, Amazon or StockX, you should have no problems buying through TikTok either. Read the fine print on each product before placing your order, as the user-generated marketplace is full of misleading titles and images. If you have a bad experience at the shop, you can always help others avoid your pitfalls by filming and uploading a product review.
Of course, if you’re the kind of person who needs the assurance of holding an item in their hands before they’re ready to pay for it, it’s always best to stick to a brick-and-mortar store. Just think of the extra money you spend by not taking advantage of online deals as a “peace of mind tax.”
