Taimu, a Chinese shopping app, has become a sensation in the US with its low-cost bargains and an extensive range of products. According to Sensor Tower data, Taimu is among the most downloaded apps in the US with Chinese roots, alongside TikTok, CapCut, and Shein. While the app’s success continues to soar, concerns have been raised over Chinese companies’ growing presence in the US and the potential risks posed by the collection of personal data.
Positioned as an Amazon-like superstore, it sells everything from makeup to electronics, with its parent company, Pinduoduo, making its first foray into the US market. Taimu’s popularity surged in the wake of the Super Bowl in February, with over 100 million viewers urged to “shop like a billionaire.” Its success is in part due to the growing demand for affordable products and the app’s ability to tap into China’s strengths in producing apparel in greater varieties and with greater flexibility.
Taimu’s rise to fame
Since its launch in September 2020, Taimu has had 33 million downloads in the US, with user numbers surging in the month of the Super Bowl. The app’s success has been attributed to its low prices, which have wooed millions of American consumers seeking to save on their shopping. Laurie Silva, a 65-year-old in California, has bought craft supplies, jewelry, and gifts from Taimu, paying as little as $1.25 for earrings and $15 for a cardigan. Another customer, Stephanie Wolfe, said she was impressed with Taimu’s speedy delivery and has continued to order more products.
Shein’s success
Shein, another Chinese-made shopping app, has made a splash in the US in recent years, with its AI and big data playing a critical role in its expansion and success. Shein has used data collected from its apps and other social media channels to gain insights into consumers’ shopping habits and lifestyles, enabling the company to offer in-demand items. However, Shein has also come under fire for generating fast fashion waste and for its workers’ poor working conditions. A recent report found that some workers toil for 11 to 13 hours a day.
TikTok’s Fate
Taimu and Shein’s ascent has been accompanied by scrutiny, with concerns raised over the companies’ collection of vast amounts of personal data from American consumers. TikTok, another Chinese app, is facing a potential ban in the US amid allegations that its data haul amounts to a national security threat and that its algorithm poses a danger to mental health. TikTok’s fate has yet to be determined, with concerns that its CEO faced a brutal hearing in US Congress last month. Lawmakers unanimously accused the social media app of being a threat to America. However, the Shein’s success can be attributed to its innovative use of data collected from its apps and other social media channels to gain insights into consumers’ shopping habits and lifestyles. This allows the company to offer in-demand items, giving it a competitive edge in the market, the vast majority of US consumers have shrugged off security concerns.
Shared data concerns
Concerns have been raised over the potential risks of shared data, with some arguing that “the nationality of the company is a very crude and nationalistic criterion” in assessing security threats. A research paper co-authored by Milton Mueller of the Georgia Institute of Technology concluded that China connections and fast fashion scrutiny.
The rise of Chinese shopping apps like Temu and Shein in the US has been met with both enthusiasm and scrutiny. While these platforms offer consumers low-cost products and a wide selection of goods, they have also faced criticism for their labor practices, contribution to fast fashion waste, and data collection practices.
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As tensions between the US and China continue to grow, it remains to be seen whether these platforms will face increased scrutiny or even a potential ban like TikTok. However, for now, they remain popular among US consumers seeking affordable and diverse shopping options.
