TikTok Cracks Down on Scams with New Shopping Safety Rules

As TikTok continues its aggressive push into in-stream shopping, the platform faces one critical challenge: earning user trust. While the app’s commerce ambitions are clear, its success ultimately depends on whether consumers feel confident enough to buy directly from TikTok clips — something that remains a significant hurdle in Western markets, where skepticism around social shopping persists. To address this, TikTok has released its latest TikTok Shop Safety Report, detailing the steps it’s taking to protect buyers, combat fraud, and enhance the overall in-app shopping experience. As the company explains: “TikTok Shop’s vision for a new kind of shopping culture is built on transparency and community protection. Our updated Safety Report demonstrates our dedication to sharing our ongoing efforts to protect users while fighting fraud, counterfeits, and policy violations. By documenting our progress and sharing key data publicly, we’re demonstrating our commitment to establishing the platform as a trusted e-commerce destination where discovery and safety go hand in hand.” To that end, TikTok shared several notable figures highlighting its expanding efforts: - Between January and June 2025, 1.4 million seller registration applications were rejected for failing to meet TikTok Shop’s standards.- More than 700,000 sellers were removed, primarily due to violations leading to forced shop closures.- Over 70 million product listings were declined in the first half of 2025, mostly for counterfeit or unsafe products.- 200,000 listings of restricted or prohibited items were removed after publication. TikTok also notes that it’s employing multiple risk prevention mechanisms in its onboarding process — including a rigorous verification system and requirements for proof of identity and business registration. “New sellers also undergo a probation period, which limits daily orders and product listings until they show they understand and can adhere to marketplace rules.” Through these measures, TikTok is working to establish a more secure and reliable marketplace, aiming to convince users that their purchases are protected. That’s especially important given how hesitant Western consumers remain about social commerce. Unlike shoppers in Asia, where in-stream buying has become mainstream, many Western users still prefer to complete purchases through traditional eCommerce platforms — largely due to concerns over fraud and counterfeit products. Those concerns are not without merit. Just last week, reports surfaced indicating that Meta knowingly generates roughly $16 billion per year from scam ads, which its systems fail to adequately block despite recognizing suspicious patterns. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, nearly one in four adults worldwide lost money to scams in 2024, with Facebook ranking as the second most-cited platform for fraudulent activity (after WhatsApp). This widespread exposure to scams naturally erodes consumer confidence across all social platforms, making TikTok’s mission to build a safe shopping environment even more crucial. The contrast with China’s Douyin — TikTok’s sister app — is striking. There, social commerce has evolved into a dominant revenue driver, supported by stronger regulatory oversight and more stringent consumer protection measures. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, clearly hopes to replicate that success globally — but to do so, it must first overcome the credibility gap that still plagues Western users’ perception of in-app shopping. For now, TikTok’s focus on safety, verification, and transparency is a necessary foundation. Whether that will be enough to change consumer behavior remains to be seen. But if the company can continue tightening its seller controls and proving that TikTok Shop is as safe as traditional eCommerce platforms, it could eventually spark the same in-stream buying revolution that’s already transformed the Chinese market. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!

Meta’s relentless pursuit to dominate the global AI landscape is coming at an extraordinary cost — and the company is far from done spending. Its latest move underscores just how massive that ambition has become, with Meta now committing $600 billion in investments across the United States over the next three years to bolster its AI and virtual reality infrastructure. As the company explained: “We’re focused on creating the next generation of AI products and building personal superintelligence for everyone. Data centers are crucial to reaching these goals and helping America maintain its technological edge. That’s why we’re investing in building industry-leading AI data centers right here in the US. We’re committing over $600 billion in the US by 2028 to support AI technology, infrastructure, and workforce expansion.” To put that into perspective, $600 billion over three years means roughly $200 billion annually — more than the GDP of over 130 countries. This staggering figure adds to the hundreds of billions Meta has already poured into AI infrastructure projects: from new data centers and undersea cables to regional connectivity initiatives and hardware advancements designed to power its future ecosystem. Meta is clearly all-in on its AI vision. But at such an enormous scale, it raises questions about the long-term financial payoff — especially as experts continue to debate whether AI’s commercial potential truly matches the hype. Still, Mark Zuckerberg and his team appear convinced that the returns will come, whether in direct profitability or in the race to develop artificial general intelligence, which they see as the defining technological milestone of this era. At the same time, this colossal spending announcement serves another strategic purpose: reminding Washington of Meta’s economic importance to the United States — and, by extension, strengthening its position with lawmakers and regulators. According to Meta: “Since 2010, our data center projects have supported over 30,000 skilled trade jobs and 5,000 operational jobs, and we’re one of the largest customers of US-based general contractors and manufacturers. We’re currently bringing more than $20 billion in business to subcontractors across the US, supporting steel workers, pipefitters, electricians, fiber technicians, and others who are building the next generation of AI-optimized data centers.”  The company also highlights its growing investments in modernizing grid infrastructure and its efforts to minimize environmental impact through advanced water and energy management systems. In other words, Meta wants policymakers to see its AI spending spree not as reckless ambition, but as an engine of national growth — one that sustains tens of thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity. Of course, this also comes at a time when Meta faces multiple regulatory challenges. The company remains under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission for alleged monopolistic practices, and it’s likely to be affected by tighter age restrictions for social media, as well as new regulatory frameworks for AI development and immersive VR experiences. Add to that growing scrutiny over scam ads across Meta’s platforms and ongoing multi-billion-dollar fines in the EU, and it’s clear that Zuckerberg’s empire is navigating through turbulent waters. Yet, by emphasizing Meta’s enormous domestic economic contribution, the company may be hoping to soften political resistance and secure more favorable treatment at home. Whether that strategy pays off remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Meta’s AI ambitions are unmatched in both scale and cost. The company’s vast financial outlay ensures that AI will become even more deeply embedded across its platforms — from Instagram and Facebook to WhatsApp and the Metaverse. So, while the long-term profitability of these efforts is still uncertain, one can expect to see a new wave of AI-driven innovation flooding Meta’s ecosystem in the years ahead — powered by an investment so large, it rivals the budgets of entire nations. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!

TikTok is expanding access to its new Bulletin Boards feature, a tool designed to let creators and brands share direct-message-style updates with their most dedicated followers inside the app. As seen in early examples, certain TikTok profiles now display a Bulletin Board icon located just below the username, offering users a quick link to view updates. Essentially, Bulletin Boards function as a one-to-many messaging channel, much like Instagram’s Broadcast Channels. They provide a space where creators can post short-form messages that include text, photos, or videos — a compact, personalized way to keep audiences informed and engaged. Visitors to a profile can opt in to receive updates from that creator’s Bulletin Board, ensuring they’re instantly notified whenever new content or announcements go live. It’s another move from TikTok that strengthens creator-fan relationships and encourages more consistent interaction beyond the main feed. The feature first surfaced in testing back in June, but TikTok has since updated its official documentation, suggesting a wider rollout is now underway. According to TikTok: “The bulletin board is an in-app channel for eligible creators to communicate and engage with their followers. As a creator, you can open your own board and publish customized bulletins to stay in touch and share updates with your followers.” For those with access, setting up a Bulletin Board is relatively straightforward: 1. Open the TikTok app and tap Inbox at the bottom of the screen. If you see a banner about Bulletin Boards, tap ‘Try it’ to begin.2. Tap the Chat button at the top.3. Select ‘Create a bulletin board.’4. Use the ‘Show on profile’ toggle to control whether the board is visible on your page.5. Tap ‘Create’ to finalize your Bulletin Board setup. This new tool could become a valuable communication channel for creators, allowing them to share announcements, event details, or personal insights directly with fans — all without relying solely on algorithm-driven feeds. It also reflects a broader industry shift: audiences are increasingly engaging through private or semi-private spaces, such as DMs, rather than public comment sections. Bulletin Boards, therefore, tap directly into that behavioral trend, offering creators a way to nurture their most loyal followers in a more personal, controlled environment. TikTok hasn’t yet disclosed specific eligibility requirements or regional availability, but evidence suggests the feature is appearing on a growing number of profiles. If TikTok continues this rollout, Bulletin Boards could quickly become a central tool for creator communication, bridging the gap between mass content distribution and more intimate, real-time connection — a move that aligns perfectly with the platform’s evolving vision of community-driven engagement. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!