The TikTok phenomenon is really interesting to me in general because I think it sort of grows out of this phenomenon that you get these massive retail platforms, Amazon, Walmart and Target are all this at this point. They allow third party sellers to create listings on their website to sell products that target does not own. And with that, you give up a degree of control about what is being sold through your website. That's why you see sort of TikTok as a huge vector for recommendation.
Paris Marx is joined by Amanda Mull to discuss the history of consumerism and where ecommerce goes in the next few years as interest rates rise and its market share stalls.
Amanda Mull is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where she writes the Material World column. She’s also a shop steward at The Atlantic Union. Follow Amanda on Twitter at @amandamull.
Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.
The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham and part of the Harbinger Media Network.
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