The Unsafe Side of Affordable: A Deep Dive into the Safety Concerns and Regulatory Issues Surrounding Cheap Electric Heaters Sold on TikTok and Temu

The rise of e-commerce platforms like TikTok Shop and Temu has brought a new wave of convenience and affordability to online shopping. However, this convenience comes with a hidden danger that has recently come to light: the sale of unsafe and potentially explosive electric heaters. In this article, we will delve into the safety concerns and regulatory issues surrounding these cheap electric heaters sold on TikTok and Temu.

According to a report by Which?, a consumer group in the UK, eight electric heaters sold on TikTok and Temu failed safety tests, posing a serious risk to users. The cheapest heater cost just £7.20, and most of the devices did not meet UK safety standards. The group warned that these heaters, some of which had been promoted by influencers on TikTok, could explode or start house fires.

TikTok and Temu, both of which have emerged as rivals to more established online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay, have millions of UK shoppers turning to them for seemingly affordable products. However, the findings from Which? highlight the need for better regulation of these platforms to ensure the safety of consumers.

The consumer group identified several posts from influencers promoting fire hazard heaters in TikTok search results. TikTok Shop is interwoven into the video-sharing app, with products available on it frequently appearing in creators’ videos on the platform. Influencers have a significant impact on consumer behavior, and their promotion of these dangerous heaters could put their followers at risk.

Lesley Rudd, the chief executive of Electrical Safety First, urged influencers to take responsibility for their actions, stating that they have a moral duty to ensure the products they recommend to their followers are safe. She also agreed that current regulations are broken, given the rise of new online sellers.

Which? purchased and tested five portable heaters from TikTok Shop and three from Temu. Only one was both safe for home use and legal for UK sale, according to the group. Temu and TikTok both claimed to prioritize customer safety, but despite removing the heaters from sale, more similar listings had since appeared in their place.

The safety concerns surrounding these cheap electric heaters are not new. In 2020, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning about counterfeit space heaters sold on Amazon, eBay, and other online marketplaces. The CPSC found that these heaters did not comply with federal safety standards and posed a risk of fire and burn injuries.

The regulatory landscape for online marketplaces is complex, with responsibility for product safety often unclear. In the UK, the Online and Distance Selling Regulations require online retailers to provide certain information to consumers, but there is no legal requirement for them to ensure the safety of the products they sell. In the US, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against online sellers for selling unsafe products, but the process can be lengthy and complex.

The European Union has taken a more proactive approach to regulating online marketplaces. The Platform to Business (P2B) Regulation, which came into effect in October 2020, requires online intermediaries to take down illegal content and take action against sellers of counterfeit or unsafe products. However, the regulation does not apply to all online marketplaces, and enforcement can be challenging.

The safety concerns surrounding cheap electric heaters sold on TikTok and Temu highlight the need for greater regulation of online marketplaces to ensure the safety of consumers. The UK government has called for greater legal responsibility for online marketplaces for unsafe products, and the EU’s P2B Regulation is a step in the right direction. However, more needs to be done to ensure that consumers are protected from dangerous products, particularly those that are promoted by influencers on social media platforms.

In conclusion, the sale of unsafe and potentially explosive electric heaters on TikTok and Temu is a serious concern that highlights the need for greater regulation of online marketplaces. The findings from Which? and the experiences of consumers demonstrate the importance of ensuring the safety of products sold online, particularly those that are promoted by influencers. The regulatory landscape for online marketplaces is complex, and more needs to be done to ensure that consumers are protected from dangerous products. The safety of consumers should always be the priority, and online marketplaces have a responsibility to ensure that the products they sell meet safety standards and do not pose a risk to users.