Amazon Tests TikTok-Like Feed in App (wsj.com) 11
Even Amazon.com wants to be a little like TikTok. From a report: Amazon is testing a feature in its app that would show users a TikTok-style photo and video feed of products for shoppers to share with other users. The test is currently visible to a small number of Amazon employees, according to a person familiar with it. Amazon joins other major technology companies such as Meta Platforms and Google parent Alphabet that have attempted to bump up engagement through short videos and an endless stream of content. The portal being tested under the internal name "Inspire," appears as a diamond widget on the home page of Amazon's app, according to Israeli-based artificial intelligence firm Watchful Technologies, which has tracked the feature's use.
The widget brings shoppers to a feed that shows a stream of images and videos of products, with shoppers able to like, share and ultimately purchase items. While most of the feed now appears as still pictures, Watchful researchers said the portal also features video content. An Amazon spokeswoman said the company is "constantly testing new features to help make customers' lives a little easier." Amazon often experiments with new products and services for employees before releasing them publicly. It is possible the company may alter the "Inspire" feature significantly before launching it to the public or not release it at all. Amazon is the latest tech giant to try to capitalize on the sharp rise and popularity of TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance.
The widget brings shoppers to a feed that shows a stream of images and videos of products, with shoppers able to like, share and ultimately purchase items. While most of the feed now appears as still pictures, Watchful researchers said the portal also features video content. An Amazon spokeswoman said the company is "constantly testing new features to help make customers' lives a little easier." Amazon often experiments with new products and services for employees before releasing them publicly. It is possible the company may alter the "Inspire" feature significantly before launching it to the public or not release it at all. Amazon is the latest tech giant to try to capitalize on the sharp rise and popularity of TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance.
Priorities (Score:4, Interesting)
Maybe fix your knackered review system which is becoming more and more untrustowrthy every month.
Or the rampant counterfitting problems.
Or the manipulation of first page results or searches for specific things that bring up wacky knockoff products
Or the continued problems with employee working conditions
Re: Priorities (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah that would definitely help. There is something to be said about Newegg and the fact that they seem to curate their products to a high enough degree that sorting by brand actually works.
People who write serious reviews (Score:2)
People who take the time to write a serious review are the ones who may just do a full video or write it out. Yes, I get it the kids like to play TicTok games but I wouldn't trust them over a badly written review with lots of grammatical errors.
"Buy product, it good quality"
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Totally won't be abused! (Score:1)
"TikTok-style photo and video feed of products for shoppers to share with other users"
"TikTok-style photo and video feed of products for paid corporate shills to share with people to manipulate them into buying"
Fixed that for you.
Good (Score:2)
Slower Apps Are Progress! (Score:2)
This is great! I was just thinking to myself that the Amazon Shopping app on Android has become to quick and responsive. Thank goodness someone is doing something about that! Maybe they'll give the same treatment to the Amazon Music app on Android! I wouldn't want it to be stable or anything.