TikTok is reportedly considering banning links to external e-commerce sites in an effort to increase user retention and drive in-app purchases, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
The move, which is still in the early stages of development, would represent a significant shift for TikTok, which has allowed users to link to external e-commerce sites since its inception. The company has been testing the ban with a small number of users in recent weeks, and is said to be evaluating the results before making a decision on whether to roll it out more widely.
If implemented, the ban would likely have a major impact on e-commerce businesses that rely on TikTok to drive traffic to their websites. It would also be a blow to the growing number of TikTok influencers who have built businesses around promoting products from external e-commerce sites.
A TikTok spokesperson declined to comment on the report, but said that the company is .
