On January 19th, the social media app TikTok will likely be banned from the phones of Americans.
With TikTok disappearing, the TikTok shop will go with it, leaving many Gen Z-ers without a platform to peddle their trinkets.
Without a venue to promote half-baked products, many Gen Z-ers are turning to the streets to become street hawkers.
Said one Gen Z hawker:
“Without TikTok Shop, many people won’t know where to go to buy their off-brand headphones and phone cases.
It’s also difficult to tell people “this is the best product I’ve ever used,” in person when I only have one take.”
However, Gen Z doesn’t have to look far to find the formula.
One street hawking expert claims the template has been created by preceding generations:
“Squint hard enough and QVC is just TikTok Shop ran by Baby Boomers!
Facebook Marketplace? Well, that’d be the Millennials.
And the Gen X-ers? They’ve been hawking As Seen on TV products from local Brookstones for decades!”
The formula is there and where there’s a will, there’s a way. Gen Z will persevere to find that way.
Godspeed, Hawkers.