Temu, a brand that has gained significant attention over the past year, has also captured the interest of numerous college students, myself included. This website resembles Amazon but offers a wide range of items at exceptionally affordable prices.
I came into familiarity with Temu at the beginning of this college semester while I was shopping for apartment living room decor. I was tasked with buying multiple items for my apartment such as candles, television trays, coasters, blankets and LED lights. While shopping on Amazon for these items, their prices simultaneously racked up into the hundreds of dollars.
Unsure of how I would be able to pay for these items as a college student with a very limited budget, I put off purchasing for as long as possible. Fatefully, I proceeded to stumble upon a Temu ad on my TikTok feed. I was initially skeptical about its legitimacy and thus sought the advice of friends who had already ventured into the cheap offerings of this website. Reluctantly, after hearing positive feedback and assurances, I decided to give it a try.
My first package from this website was what I deemed to be a trial run. If the quality of the items was indeed reflective of their cheap prices, I vowed to return to Amazon for better quality goods. However, Temu overcame my doubtful odds as their products were just as impressive as Amazon.
This realization triggered a series of events. I became captivated by the allure of this new website, drawn in by its affordable prices and complimentary shipping. As a result, I found myself placing more orders and taking advantage of the cost savings. From sweatpants to picture frames, shelves, a miniature basketball hoop for my apartment’s living room and an array of other items, each item ranged from $1 to just under $15.
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Lacking better judgment during my exploration of Temu, I often refused to consider why their prices were remarkably low. The allure of acquiring multiple items for under $50 captivated me, especially as a college student. Temu seemed like the ultimate jackpot for anyone on a budget, and I was fully prepared to leverage this opportunity for as long as possible.
However, my naivety dissolved as my curiosity deepened. As an individual aspiring to pursue a career in law and currently majoring in political science, I am inherently wired to ask questions and unravel legal complexities. Therefore, the lingering question in the back of my mind regarding why Temu was so inexpensively priced became increasingly unavoidable as my curiosity intensified.
What I found during my research seemed to confirm most of my concerns. Temu prices do indeed come with a catch, and this is at the expense of every user’s personal data.
According to classaction.org, Temu already faces a class action lawsuit based on its data breaches. This class action regards the undeniable fact that Temu unlawfully collects large amounts of users’ private data by tracking their internet activity. This fast fashion retailer collects a wide variety of data from its consumers through a hidden JavaScript code, such as addresses, phone numbers, credit card or banking information, social security numbers and biometric data.
Not only does the website compromise one’s privacy without consent, but it could have detrimental effects on the economy. According to Time, those just like myself who have ditched Amazon prices to buy Temu’s discounted goods could pressure Amazon to slash their prices. Though this seems like a solution, this would affect wages and thus create economic unrest.
Despite the wealth of information, the temptation of Temu’s prices remains difficult to resist. However, it’s imperative to be well-informed before diving into this app.
Some could argue that most websites and apps have faced similar controversies regarding the illegal acquisition of consumer data. TikTok, Shein and many other mainstream applications have faced similar issues but rake in multiple consumers each day. It is up to each consumer to decide if Temu is truly worth the potential consequences for the sake of its enticing prices.
Sofia is a junior in LAS.
