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The pull of live-stream shopping, and the vital deep breath before checkout
The only thing that stands in the way between that convincing seller on-screen and my next impulse buy is a pause to rethink
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A live-stream host selling products online at JD Mall in Beijing on June 18.
ST PHOTO: MICHELLE NG
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It’s 9pm and my 3½-year-old daughter has been tucked into bed. It is now that I retreat into my room for my (and dare I say, many mums’) favourite pastime: doomscrolling on Instagram and TikTok.
With every few scrolls, a TikTok live video pops up. I’m instantly transported to neighbourhood makeshift stalls where a promoter hawks their ware – be it a new pot, a suspiciously effective face cream or perhaps a unique dishwashing sponge that promises to leave your dishes sparkling in just a matter of seconds.

