The TikTok Shop spending trap – Grand Valley Lanthorn

Feb 2, 2026
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Many of us have admitted we need to cut down on overspending. It’s a nasty habit that many people want to get away from, but is difficult given how mass media has normalized consumption. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have made it easy for users to fantasize about owning products they don’t need. 
I have found TikTok Shop, a shopping platform directly connected to the short-form video app, to be the worst of these predators. It’s too easy to accidentally swipe onto the “Shop” tab and get stuck scrolling through potential purchases. Most importantly, the way that items from the shop are promoted is predatory. The platform is littered with constant ads promoting unnecessary products that you can buy with just a couple of clicks. It’s only encouraging compulsive spending. 
TikTok makes purchasing easy, and creators are constantly reminding us to spend money on silly things like a “super cheap six-dollar shirt that you definitely need.” I can’t even scroll TikTok for three minutes without a TikTok Shop advertisement, and of course, a teenage girl is the spokesperson. 
It has always been important for advertisements to be humorous, relatable and maybe even tug on consumers’ heartstrings, but these new-age ads go beyond that. Advertisements are selling identities to their audiences. They insinuate that if you want to be someone else or are unhappy with yourself, you can solve your problems with their product. While ads have always done this, it’s a major problem when they get tied to social media platforms like TikTok, which promote a different “aesthetic” every week. 
Fast fashion is moving faster than ever before, trading out trends within weeks. These days, it feels like overconsumption is a personality trait. Some influencers’ income depends on users romanticizing the idea of shopping and spending money frivolously through the links that they post. This can seem like a stretch, but it’s true. Shopping hauls and “get ready with me” videos serve little purpose besides encouraging viewers to buy more. 
Think about collectors on social media romanticizing their huge, thousand-dollar collections. Wanting to be the biggest fan of a favorite television show or game is normal. But, nowadays, it feels like a competition to spend the most money on merchandise rather than just enjoying the series or game. Seeing these grand displays of merchandise makes especially younger viewers feel as though they need to spend money to “prove” how much they enjoy particular content.
If this wasn’t concerning enough, TikTok Shop has started to become too intimate and personal for my liking. TikTok’s algorithm is tailored to you; this isn’t new information. The main place for scrolling is called the “for you page,” after all. However, due to this feature, TikTok’s ads can be targeted to you, whether you have protective settings turned on or not. Ads seem to be more intimate than ever.
Each and every day, we carry around tiny devices that are basically automatic ad machines telling us what to buy, what to eat and what lifestyle to strive for. I enjoy social media from time to time, but I cannot ignore how platforms like TikTok are turning into a space where users are brainwashed into consuming beyond their needs.
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