this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2025
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Despite what TikTok might claim, I’m fairly certain they’ve never actually turned a profit. Data collection, and influencing the American was always the point.
Very likely, but I'd be surprised if they couldn't achieve 80% of that on the web. Targeted surveillance, as they've been caught doing to critics before would not work as well.
With that data collection, their algorithm for targeted marketing is on a completely different level. I completely believe they're profitable.
Not only do you have knowledge into people who are likely buyers, you can put them into a buying mood right before showing them the ad so they're primed for it. Then on top of THAT, you don't have to design, film or edit the ad - you just pay an influencer to do it for you. It makes it faster, easier and cheaper to AstroTurf brand awareness than ever before.
Relatedly, the only people I know ordering things from Shien or Temu are on TikTok.
The platform isn't creating revenue, the traffic and data collection do however create lots and lots of revenue so it really just depends on how you want to parse out their financial situation.