By skyforbes 
Shopping was once a weekend affair — a trip to the market, bargaining with shopkeepers, strolling through malls. Then came e-commerce giants like Amazon, Flipkart, and Daraz, which brought marketplaces online. Now, another revolution is underway, one that blurs the line between content and commerce. Welcome to the age of social commerce, where the swipe of a reel, the forward of a WhatsApp message, or the scroll through TikTok can end in an instant purchase.
It’s no longer add to cart. It’s tap to buy.
What is Social Commerce?
Social commerce is the merging of social media and e-commerce. Unlike traditional online shopping, where consumers visit websites or apps, social commerce integrates the buying process directly into platforms people already use for entertainment, messaging, and community.
Think of it this way:
- See a beauty tutorial on Instagram → Tap on the lipstick in the video → Buy without leaving the app.
Get a WhatsApp catalog from a local boutique → Chat, order, and pay within the same thread.
Scroll TikTok → Watch a viral cooking video. → Tap the embedded product link for instant checkout.