TikTok Sees Increased Shopping Activity Over Black Friday Weekend

12/03/25
Source: Social Media Today – Latest News by Andrew Hutchinson. Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of TikTok’s Growing In-Stream Shopping and Black Friday Success

TikTok’s in-stream shopping is seeing steady growth, highlighted by a 50% increase in Black Friday shoppers compared to last year. The platform recorded over $500 million in sales during the four-day shopping period, fueled by rising live shopping engagement and creator-driven content. While still behind its Chinese counterpart Douyin, TikTok’s commerce ambitions are expanding, overcoming challenges around consumer habits and market restrictions.

Optimixed’s Overview: How TikTok is Transforming Social Commerce with Surging In-App Sales

Steady Growth in TikTok Commerce

TikTok’s push into in-stream shopping continues to gain momentum, with significant increases in user participation and sales revenue. Despite a slower adoption rate compared to its Chinese version, Douyin, TikTok is showing promising growth in the U.S. market.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Highlights

  • TikTok Shop saw a 50% rise in shoppers during Black Friday and Cyber Monday compared to the previous year.
  • Sales for the four-day period exceeded $500 million, showcasing the platform’s rising influence in e-commerce.
  • Live shopping sessions grew by 84% in sales, with over 760,000 livestreams generating more than 1.6 billion views.
  • Creators posted nearly 10 million shoppable videos over the weekend, expanding the reach and impact of TikTok’s shopping ecosystem.

Comparative Market Insights and Challenges

Douyin’s in-app commerce is on track to surpass $500 billion GMV in 2024, a benchmark TikTok aims to approach with projections of $130 billion GMV in 2025. However, TikTok faces hurdles including:

  • Western consumer habits favoring separation between social media and shopping platforms.
  • Internal strategic conflicts on how best to replicate Douyin’s success internationally.
  • Potential regulatory risks affecting access to key markets like the U.S.

Future Outlook

While TikTok’s in-stream shopping is not yet a dominant trend in all regions, continuous improvements in consumer protection and enhanced shopping experiences are driving broader adoption. This evolving commerce strategy could become a major revenue driver, reshaping how consumers shop within social platforms.