My TikTok Shop Food Addiction

Kate Chung

TikTok Shop: you either love it or you don’t know what it is. Hourglass bodysuits, Ashwagandha, and enough midnight snacks infused with artificial dye to paint the world. I am, without fail, a happy victim of its trap. For those who spend time outdoors and are blissfully unaware, Tiktok Shop is an online store in the TikTok app released to the U.S. last September. The store consists of more than 500,000 independent vendors that sell clothing, food and literally anything else you can ship from overseas.

Most of the small businesses post ads for their products as videos that plaster every viewer’s feed, creating quick trends and full-on mass overconsumption, but unfortunately, I fall for it. Every. Single. Time. There are many things to add to your cart on TikTok Shop, but it’s certainly the snack trends that have emptied my wallet. Mama V’s Sour Blue Raspberry Gushers. Bub’s Swedish Candy. Dubai Chocolate. Freeze-dried peach rings. The ads never stop, and my self-control is futile in the presence of an unboxing video. It’s hard to express, but there's something magical about ordering a snack from TikTok. The second I place an order, I spend hours scrolling on the app, watching reviews and mukbangs of processed foods until my shipment arrives three days later. 

It's truly bad how much time and money I’ve wasted analyzing the texture of Swedish gummies through my screen, but how can an addiction so bad taste so good? My order always satisfies my cravings and makes my excited anticipation worth it. But what’s the appeal? So far, I’ve ordered seven food items from TikTok. I realize that sounds like a lot, but allow me to defend myself. Every item I’ve ordered has had close to a hundred TikTokers swear on their lives that it’s the best thing they’ve ever tasted. Sure, they get paid to talk, but STILL. No one can fake a food reaction that convincing without a tinge of belief in its deliciousness. It would be a crime to overlook such highly praised foods! As for me, I can’t help but to be curious. 

So yes. I am addicted to TikTok Shop, and I need something to wean me off its taste.  But before I attempt to leave the scene, there’s one more thing I need to try. Every day passed is another day my mouth waters for the red 40 final boss. The blood-red, repulsive, radioactive monster, the chamoy pickle. It’s sour, spicy and ugly, and it will end my addiction with a bang. Please, someone buy me a chamoy pickle, and I’ll let you know if I get cancer.