To Temu or not to Temu: Analyzing validity of viral app

Chances are, if you've scrolled on a social media app recently, you've seen people discussing Temu. The online retailer, which launched in the U.S. in 2022, has become increasingly popular — it even broadcasted an ad during the most recent Super Bowl. 

If you're not a current Temu customer, you're probably wondering: What's the big deal? 

Temu's main selling point is its low prices. The Super Bowl ad illustrates this as it shows a cast of animated characters buying their dream products for $10 or less. 

Immediately, these too-good-to-be-true prices seem to be targeting impressionable college students trying to live on a budget. Despite the fantasy the ad suggests, buying from Temu can be a bit of a gamble. 

Reviews of the app mention plenty of problems, including delayed shipping, low-quality products and unhelpful customer service. To some extent, the low prices reflect the trade-offs involved.

In contrast, the positive experiences of other users reflect the reasons behind the app's viral success. If you're lucky, like TikTok user @shoppinggfindsnz, you can hit the Temu jackpot. Temu hauls, which typically feature huge bags of purchases, have evoked jealousy among users, compelling others to participate.

For many, videos featuring Temu have quelled the idea that the company is a scam or that all of its products are low quality.

In addition to the questionable quality control, Temu users also have another thing to keep in mind: the app's privacy concerns. Temu's privacy policy lists what kind of data the app collects — and it's a lot.

In addition to purchase activity on the app, Temu also claims it collects other data, including "profile pictures, photos, images, videos, audio, comments, questions, messages," as well as "other data not explicitly listed here."

If you're worried about whether Temu is collecting your data, the company doesn't do much to squash these concerns. If you're seriously worried about privacy, your best bet may be to shop on a different site.

Another issue to tack onto Temu's growing list of questionable practices is its environmental impact. The marketplace isn't entirely clear about whether its products are sustainable or not, but the app encourages overconsumption. The app's tagline, "Shop Like a Billionaire," encourages users to fill up their shopping carts with as many items as possible.

With all of this in mind, should you shop at Temu? Is it worth it? 

It honestly depends on what you need and what your shopping goals are. If you're looking for a few cheap products and aren't worried about data collection, shopping at Temu might be a good option. 

But, when considering all this uncertainty, it's difficult to fully recommend the app. Given the inconsistent quality of its products, privacy concerns and environment implications, it's probably best to keep Temu far from your shopping lists.