Technology
A recent wave of viral TikTok videos encouraging Americans to purchase products directly from Chinese factories has propelled Chinese e-commerce applications DHgate and Taobao near the top of the most downloaded iPhone apps in the U.S., according to Sensor Tower. The videos, which have gained substantial traction amid concerns about rising tariffs on Chinese goods, promote direct factory purchasing to avoid retail markups. However, retail and e-commerce experts caution these claims may be misleading and potentially dangerous for consumers. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Sky Canaves, principal retail and e-commerce analyst at eMarketer, said,
April 22, 2025