singapore – A growing number of Singaporean women in their 50s and 60s are turning to TikTok as a new income stream, spurred by a TikTok Academy initiative and the platform’s potential for direct sales. Ms. Tang, approaching her 57th birthday with three months remaining, is among those finding success through live-streamed commerce.
Ms. tang and her peers from TikTok’s academy now utilize a group chat to share advice and coordinate live streams, recognizing that increased initial viewership boosts algorithmic recommendations. “Sometiems, we hop in and say ‘Hi’, give our likes, support the stream, to try to get the algorithm to support them a little,” she explained. The group also alerts each other to potential scams, such as accounts repurposing live stream segments for unauthorized affiliate marketing.
Her most successful stream to date was a roadshow for home appliance company Mayer, attracting over 100 concurrent viewers and resulting in notable sales of discounted goods. Ms. Tang highlighted the platform’s appeal: “TikTok gives you a way to sort of run a business,but you don’t have all the hassles.You don’t have to invest in the product. You don’t have to deal with the logistics. You just go there and sell.”
After previous unsuccessful attempts at sales roles involving encyclopedias and insurance, Ms. Tang views TikTok as a flexible chance. “I’ve 15 to 20 good years left, so I don’t want to be working nine to five,” she said. “This gives me versatility. I don’t have to show up for work every day… If I want to start making money, I start calling the sellers.” She describes her foray into TikTok as “a new adventure,” adding, “I’m at a stage of my life where I thought I’d just try something. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t work, I gave it a go.”
