At this point, I think TikTok has convinced me to buy more things than I can count. From makeup and skincare to clothes and random gadgets, something new always pops up on my For You Page and suddenly feels like something I need.
One minute I’m casually scrolling, and the next, I’m watching someone explain why a product has completely changed their life. Before I know it, I’ve seen it in five different videos, and I’m starting to wonder if I should buy it too.
But when did everything become a must-have?
The Never-Ending Cycle of Viral Products
It feels like every week there’s a new product taking over TikTok. Whether it’s a certain lip gloss, water bottle, or skincare product, something is always being labeled as the next big thing.
We’ve seen it happen with Stanley cups, Owala water bottles, and Sol de Janeiro products. Suddenly, everyone seems to own the same thing, and your entire For You Page is filled with people talking about it.
The funny thing is that most of these products aren’t necessarily things we need. Chances are, we already have something that works perfectly fine. But after seeing enough people recommend something, it’s easy to convince yourself that maybe you need it too.
TikTok Has Definitely Influenced Me
I’ll admit I’ve fallen for TikTok recommendations plenty of times. I’ve bought skincare, clothes, and random gadgets because I saw people talking about them.
However, I do try to be responsible about what I purchase. Before buying something, I usually look at reviews to see whether it’s worth the money. Most of the time, I stick to products I know I’ll use, but there have definitely been occasions when I’ve bought something I didn’t necessarily need.
I’ve also noticed that seeing the same product repeatedly can have different effects on me. Sometimes, the more I see people using something, the more interested I become. But when I keep getting the exact same advertisement over and over again, I start getting annoyed, and it makes me want the product less.
There’s a difference between discovering something through someone’s recommendation and feeling like you’re constantly being sold something.
When Did Wanting Something Become Needing It?
Everything on TikTok seems to be a must-have, a game changer, or something you supposedly can’t live without.
But realistically, how many products can actually be life-changing?
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to try something new. I’ve discovered products through TikTok that I genuinely enjoy using. The problem is when every trend starts feeling like something we need to keep up with.
Just because thousands of people are buying something doesn’t automatically mean it’s worth the money.
Not Every Trend Needs to End Up in Your Cart
I don’t think TikTok influencing our shopping habits is entirely a bad thing. The app has introduced me to products I probably wouldn’t have discovered otherwise, and some recommendations really are worth the hype.
However, it’s important to recognize how easily scrolling can turn into shopping. For me, checking reviews and thinking about whether I’ll actually use something helps me decide if it’s worth purchasing.
TikTok will probably keep introducing us to new products, and I’m sure I’ll continue finding things that catch my attention.
But maybe the next time something goes viral, we should ask ourselves one question before adding it to our carts: Do we actually want it, or did TikTok just tell us we do?