London, United Kingdom – Consumer group Which? has issued a warning about the sale of potentially dangerous electric heaters on popular social media platforms, TikTok and Temu.
According to the watchdog, tests conducted on eight different heaters purchased from these platforms revealed alarming safety hazards. Some of the issues found included the risk of explosion, potential electric shocks, and the possibility of starting house fires. This dangerous situation has raised serious concerns about the safety of products being sold through online marketplaces.
After purchasing and testing the heaters, Which? discovered that six out of the eight products were deemed unsafe for consumer use. The hazards found in these products ranged from electrical shock risks to the potential for explosions.
Notably, the watchdog identified several sellers offering the hazardous heaters on TikTok, with a significant number of sales attributed to these products. Moreover, the platform has come under scrutiny for featuring videos promoting these dangerous products, some of which had accumulated over 100,000 views.
In response to the findings, both TikTok and Temu have taken action by removing the identified hazardous heaters and listings from their platforms. However, despite these measures, Which? reported that similar listings for dangerous heaters have subsequently resurfaced.
The consumer protection policy head of Which?, Sue Davies, emphasized the need for the government to impose legal responsibility on online marketplaces to prevent unsafe products from reaching consumers. This call for stricter regulations comes in light of the potentially harmful products being sold through these popular social media platforms.
Furthermore, Temu expressed regret over the safety issues raised by Which? and stated that the four identified hazardous heaters had been removed from the platform. Meanwhile, TikTok reiterated its commitment to removing merchants or products that violate its policies.
It remains crucial for manufacturers, suppliers, and online marketplaces to prioritize the safety of the products being sold to consumers. The Department for Business and Trade has assured that they will consider any concerns raised about unsafe products and emphasized the responsibility of manufacturers and suppliers to only place safe products on the market.