TikTok Shop brands are using synthetic characters or AI versions of products to test ideas or replace gimmicky videos from side hustlers.
Dan Whateley is a senior media reporter at Business Insider. He covers the intersection of social media and the music business, focusing on how creators monetize their presence online and the internal cultures of platforms like TikTok, as well as the broader implications of social media on industries such as sports and news. His work has been featured in various outlets including Business Insider South Africa, AOL, and Yahoo Finance Canada.






