–17 votes
in General Factchecking by Journeyman (2.1k points)
by Novice (640 points)
+1
I'd recommend against using TikTok as a primary source because it is a prime media platform for mis/dis information as well as deep fakes and conspiracies. Upon further research, this claim is false.

https://urbanmatter.com/are-the-rumors-about-shien-closing-in-2024-true/
by Novice (690 points)
+1
There isn't much to say about the validity of this video. As it is just someone reacting to the content that Shein might be shutting down. However, I highly don't recommend anyone get their information from a place like Tik Tok and rather, go to the primary source and make your own conclusions.
by (160 points)
+1
Based on my research, I wasn’t able to find anywhere where Shein itself or another credible source validated this claim. Also this was posted on TikTok where there is a lot of mis/dis information. I also found an article explaining how Shein actually plans to take it to another step and go public in 2024.

https://thenaturehero.com/when-is-shein-shutting-down/#:~:text=However%2C%20there%E2%80%99s%20an%20ongoing%20rumor%20about%20Shein%20shutting,environmental%20impact%2C%20Shein%20denies%20these%20allegations%20and%20claims

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/30/1172957384/calls-to-shut-down-shein-a-chinese-fast-fashion-company-are-growing

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/30/1172957384/calls-to-shut-down-shein-a-chinese-fast-fashion-company-are-growing
by Newbie (410 points)
+2
This video appears to be extremely vague and presents a personal claim. It could even be interpreted as a joke. I agree with the other comments; TikTok should not be relied on as a primary source, as much of the information presented is not checked and often false. If such a claim were true, it would likely spark a huge online uproar and be covered by mainstream sources. However, while searching for other sources, I found no major organizations reporting on this. The search showed few results related to this claim. The sources I did find state that Shein will not be closing in 2024, and there has been no official confirmation from the company.

https://www.fresherslive.com/latest/articles/is-shein-shutting-down-in-2024-why-is-shein-shutting-down-1555256749
by Newbie (410 points)
Absolutely, relying on TikTok as a primary source can lead to misinformation. It's crucial to verify claims from reputable sources before accepting them as true.
by Novice (830 points)
I think this is very well said. Tik tok is not a reliable source and I see all sorts of misinformation posted everyday and people believe it.
by Apprentice (1.2k points)
This is false. Using other media sources or outlets in the future can help better your knowledge on ideas like these. Tiktok and mostly all forms of social media are deceitful and clickbaity.
by Newbie (370 points)
This claim is false. TikTok is one source you shouldn't go to in order to find out viable information. Before concluding a claim such as this, Google would be a good source to look at first.
by Novice (500 points)
you make a great point but if you had points to back it up that would be even better

37 Answers

+6 votes
by Apprentice (1.3k points)
selected by
 
Best answer

The available information does not indicate that SHEIN is shutting down. SHEIN has not made any official statements on any platform or website about shutting down. However, the US sector of the SHEIN company posted a video on their TikTok account featuring two workers laughing to a laugh track with the statement "SHEIN IS CLOSING IN 2024." This suggests that the company is not shutting down, as further evidenced by comments where they respond to users with statements like "The rumors were not true!," "Not true at all!!," or "Save your tears bestie because we are here to stay."

While they aren't shutting down, it seems as if it's extending its global footprint and planning on "going public," as a Forbes article says. It has signed an agreement with "Authentic Brands for the Forever 21 brand" to produce clothes.

Instead, there are campaigns like "Shut Down SHEIN" aiming to raise awareness about alleged unethical practices by the company, such as using forced labor and violating U.S. laws.

Other users on the app reported that clicking on these free credit or gift card links takes you to a brief survey. After completing the survey, you're prompted to provide your email and other information. You can join a rewards program that gives you benefits like free credits or rewards, but you have to make purchases first. This suggests that the post might have other motives. 

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTL1yn4yw/

(the official SHEIN US TikTok account making fun of the "SHEIN is Closing in 2024" statement.)


https://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2023/12/11/shein-global-fashion-manufacturer-will-go-public-in-2024/?sh=eb2397932208
(talking about the company's future plans)

https://www.just-style.com/news/shein-presses-forward-with-us-ipo-plans-could-go-public-in-2024/?cf-view

(also talking about the company's future plans)

https://www.greenmatters.com/news/will-shein-shut-down

(talks about the company's legal history, allegations, and if it'll shut down)

https://urbanmatter.com/are-the-rumors-about-shien-closing-in-2024-true/
(also talks about the company's legal history, allegations, and if it'll shut down)


https://www.reddit.com/r/SHEIN_/comments/ngcv0a/insta_750_shine_gift_card_scam_or_legit_what_will/
(talks about the validity of the "SHEIN Offers" on TikTok)

https://www.tiktok.com/@estellemusgrave/video/7155329725345352962

(talks about the validity of the "SHEIN Offers" on TikTok + experience w/ it)

https://www.shutdownshein.com/
 

False
by Apprentice (1.2k points)
I like how much information your fact check has to back it up, and using Shein's social media to confirm your claim. I also appreciate a lot how you gave a short summary of each source and how you used them in your claim.
by Novice (550 points)
Your fact check provides a good overview of the situation surrounding SHEIN's purported shutdown and sheds light on potential misinformation circulating on social media platforms like TikTok. I like how you delved into SHEIN's strategic moves, such as expanding its global presence and potentially going public, as indicated by credible sources like Forbes. This demonstrates that instead of shutting down, SHEIN is focusing on growth and diversification, which is consistent with its business trajectory. You also provided multiple sources, good work!
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
This was a really in depth fact check. might be one of th best I have ever seen. I like how you broke down sheins strategic moves
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
I'm really impressed by the amount of sources you referred to in this fact check! I also thought it was interesting you included how people are interacting with SHEIN's posts on social media in the comments section.
by Novice (600 points)
This video makes a subjective claim and seems to be very ambiguous. It might even be taken as a joke. I concur with the previous remarks that TikTok shouldn't be used as a primary source because a large portion of the content there is frequently inaccurate and unreliable. If this story were accurate, it would probably cause a massive internet commotion and be reported by reputable media outlets. But when I looked for other sources, I couldn't find any significant publications covering this. Very few results from the search were linked to this assertion. There hasn't been an official statement from Shein confirming that it would close in 2024, according to the sources I did discover.
+9 votes
by Apprentice (2.0k points)
Based on my research, there is not enough information to assess if this statement is true. Shein has not released any statement confirming or agreeing with this claim. Despite the controversy and allegations Shein has received, the company remains active. Right now, the claim is just a rumor speculating around.

https://thenaturehero.com/when-is-shein-shutting-down/#:~:text=However%2C%20there%E2%80%99s%20an%20ongoing%20rumor%20about%20Shein%20shutting,environmental%20impact%2C%20Shein%20denies%20these%20allegations%20and%20claims.
No available information
by (110 points)
–1
I agree with this factcheck which I think it pretty thorough. You can't rely on TikTok for your information, it can only lead to the spread of misinformation. Even if the statement does carry some weight, you can't use TikTok as a source. Videos are not verified on there before posting and harmful messages that become viral will only them be factchecked for safety. Good fact check.
by Novice (870 points)
+1
I believe that your fact check is correct and on the right path, but I think that you could include quotes or direct information from your sources. I think that making stronger connections in your fact check makes it easier and more reliable for readers to come to a conclusion.
by Apprentice (1.6k points)
+1
I agree with your assessment of the claim, however, your choice of citation is kind of questionable.  Is the Nature Hero a reliable source?  Finding a more reliable source or adding more sources will increase the credibility of your fact check.
by Apprentice (1.0k points)
+1
I agree. I think you should include more sources or pick another as your main one. I don't think Nature Hero is a reliable source by any means. There are others out there, and will give you a stronger opposition to proving the claim is wrong.
by Apprentice (1.2k points)
Hey there, I think you did a good job looking for good sources and trying to find as much info as possible. I do agree with you, I beleive tht this is fake as there has been no updates from any corparate office or CEO.
+17 votes
by Apprentice (1.5k points)
This claim is false. Shein has released no official statements about shutting down, or any plans to shut down in 2024. After analyzing the original post, I found a few things that made me question it's reliability. First, there is an odd comment to like ratio on the post, with only 23 comments compared to the 400K+ likes. This suggests that the user is deleting comments. Although I can't be certain what the comments where, they likely disagreed with the statement being said and were deleted as a result. The main post also seems to be promoting "credits" on SHEIN. They use the claimed 2024 shutdown as a way to urge others to clink a link in her bio. The link is no longer available, however, through further research I was able to find users on Reddit who saw similar posts and discussed their validity.

According to users on the reddit thread, these free credit or free giftcard links lead you to a three question survey where you are asked about how often you shop on the site, if you shop on the site at all, and how you would spend the money/credits on the site. Following the survey, it asks for your email. After, you are able to participate in a rewards program where you are required to shop to receive some benefits like free credits or rewards. Knowing this suggests that the post has an alternative motive and was not posted for the sole intent of sharing accurate information.  https://www.reddit.com/r/SHEIN_/comments/ngcv0a/insta_750_shine_gift_card_scam_or_legit_what_will/

I looked into the Shein 2024 closure more and found that there are no signs of Shein closing in 2024. A Forbes article explained that Shein is actually planning to go public in 2024 and take their company to the next step. https://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2023/12/11/shein-global-fashion-manufacturer-will-go-public-in-2024/?sh=14da63dc3220
False
by Newbie (410 points)
The claim looks suspicious, especially with the weird comments and promotions. Your digging shows why we need to be careful. Forbes says Shein's growing, not closing in 2024.
by (110 points)
I think this fact check says everything I was thinking. I'd looked into the same articles you had posted and found nothing substantial. I like that you linked everything you used as evidence to explain why you think this claim is false. Overall great job!
by Novice (970 points)
The claim seemed clearly unlikely to be true given it was posted on Tik Tok. Wonderful analysis not just looking at other sources for credibility, but looking at other things like the ratio on the actual post.
by Novice (500 points)
I appreciate the length you went into breaking down this article, and how this article is not correct. The fact it came from tik tok already shows how fishy it is
by Newbie (480 points)
I really like how your analysis observes a wide variety of data. You offered a detailed yet precise answer.
+8 votes
by Apprentice (1.5k points)
In general, there is no concrete evidence of whether or not the company is actually shutting down in 2024. The closest to an official statement Shein has released in relation to this claim is a TikTok on their official page of employees laughing at the trending notion and responding to comments with "We're staying!". The closest thing to Shein making big headlines is the announcement that the company is going public and filing for the US IPO.

https://thenaturehero.com/when-is-shein-shutting-down/#:~:text=However%2C%20there%E2%80%99s%20an%20ongoing%20rumor%20about%20Shein%20shutting,environmental%20impact%2C%20Shein%20denies%20these%20allegations%20and%20claims

https://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2023/12/11/shein-global-fashion-manufacturer-will-go-public-in-2024/?sh=4ee48dc53220

https://www.tiktok.com/@shein_us/video/7323403564066393352

https://cnbc.com/2023/11/27/shein-files-for-us-ipo-as-fast-fashion-giant-looks-to-expand-its-global-reach.html
No available information
by Apprentice (1.3k points)
I think you did a good job of answering the claim. But I think you should add some context/background information regarding the sources you cited and their reliability. In addition, I think it would be helpful to state the claim in your fact check, at least partially to give more context.
by Novice (970 points)
I think it would help strengthen your fact check if you gave more specific detail on what your sources are claiming. In the beginning of your statement you should explain if it is true or false directly and also explain if it is misleading information.
by Novice (790 points)
Really good job adding multiple sources to your fact check. You gave really good background  on where you got the information to support your factcheck. Adding a quote directly from Shein itself also helps a lot to make your factcheck stronger and seem more credible.
by Apprentice (1.0k points)
Good job at finding "statements" from the Shein tiktok account. I think It would've been helpful for you to explain to us what "going public for the US IOP" means, and I think that information in general in regards to their company sounds important and sounds like the opposite of shutting down, especially because the news of going public was semi-recent.
by Novice (520 points)
It is good you have mentioned the company's plans to go public as it is currently very successful. This in itself debunks the rumors of the potential "shutdown". You have also provided multiple sources to back up your fact check.
by Novice (730 points)
Excellent work including a variety of sources in your fact check. You provided excellent context for the sources of the data you used to support your fact-check. It also greatly strengthens and lends credibility to your factcheck when you include a statement from Shein herself.
by Novice (530 points)
Finding Shein's own comment on the TikTok post's comment section is a great way of knowing this claim is false. It proves that not only is there no evidence that they are closing in the following year, the company's own social media account has involved themselves in declaring its untruthfulness.
by Novice (970 points)
Great work on integrating various sources into your fact-check. Including a direct quote from Shein further strengthens your fact-check and enhances its credibility significantly.
+4 votes
by Novice (770 points)

Shein

This is false information because there is no evidence to back it up. According to Freshers Live, there is no confirmation that it is shutting down, but the site has faced many legal consequences. This includes copyright, antitrust, and labor law allegations. Shein is actually preparing for the opposite, they are getting ready for an initial public offering in 2024 which signifies a companies growth. According to Urban Matter, Shein is a dominant figure in the worlds fashion industry right now and has over 3,000 manufacturers in China. 

Tiktok

Usually social media is not a trustworthy source and that is not the first place you should go to for information. There was a study done by NewsGaurd, where they reviewed 500+ TikTok search results and found that 1 in 5 contained misinformation. This is false, sometimes dangerous misinformation that is spread by multiple people by mulitple people. In this case it was a video about Shein closing down, which is false, and the comments were flooded with messages like "thank you, your code worked!!" Meaning, this is a scam and the account wanted to make money. 

False
by Apprentice (1.3k points)
I think that this is a good fact-check. You did a good job breaking down the information behind Shein and TikTok explaining why the claim is false and using a variety of information on why Shein is not closing down and why TikTok is not a reliable source.
by Novice (730 points)
I appreciate the way you investigated who uploaded the TikTok and whether or not they had sufficient evidence to support the allegation. This strengthened and increased the credibility of the fact-check.
by Apprentice (1.5k points)
This is a well done fact-check. I like that you incorporated the lack of trust a person should have when collecting information from social media. Something that I think could help make this fact-check stronger is the intent behind the post. What made the poster want to post this video?
by Apprentice (1.2k points)
I think the way you explain how tiktok is not a trustworthy source and how that could be a factor on why this is false. Also I liked how to provided some data that show how misinformation on tiktok.  I thought you broke down this claim and found great sources to back up your claims.
by Novice (660 points)
The breakdown of information on Shein and TikTok in your fact-check is thorough. You have successfully refuted the claim and utilized various sources to explain why Shein is not closing down and why TikTok should not be relied upon for accurate information.
+2 votes
by Apprentice (1.0k points)

This claim is False. The original tiktok from "olivajacky" has no evidence to back its claim up. I think It's also important to mention the tone of the video. The tone of the video is in the positive light of the company Shein and being able to obtain their clothes. I couldn't find many articles about the rumors of them closing, only one from UrbanMatter.com that references the rumors but doesn't pinpoint exactly where they started from. However, the point of the article is that they are NOT closing. 

https://urbanmatter.com/are-the-rumors-about-shien-closing-in-2024-true/

False
by Novice (950 points)
I like how you went into who posted the TikTok and if they have enough behind the claim to make it reliable or not. That made the fact-check more trustworthy and stronger.
+1 vote
by Apprentice (1.2k points)
Based on my research there is not enough evidence to support this claim. When the main claim is from a TikTok it generally cannot be sufficient enough to suffice. When researching I found an article from Forbes that claims the company was going public in 2024, so I don't believe there is enough evidence for me to support this claim/ I think it is false.
False
by Novice (550 points)
I agree with your conclusion on the claim and I like that you mentioned the lack of evidence. Next time you should add the link to the sources you mention in your fact-check in case anyone wants to read more.
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
I enjoyed your fact-check! Although you analyzed the claim, citing your sources would be very helpful to prove your point. I also appreciated that you mentioned that TikTok is not a valid source when it comes to finding information online!
+2 votes
by Novice (520 points)

According to the Tiktok included, there is no evidence to back up this claim. There seem to be many rumors about the company shutting down, however, Shein itself has not announced any plans to do so. The social media posting could very well be a marketing scheme, urging people to find their way to the site.  Although the company has received much criticism about legal and ethical concerns, Shein has become one of the largest and fastest-growing "cheap" fashion brands. In an article published by Urban Matter, Shein is reportedly going public at some point in 2024, which usually indicates a successful future. This claim is likely unreliable as there is no official information to back it up. 
https://urbanmatter.com/are-the-rumors-about-shien-closing-in-2024-true/

by Novice (920 points)
Great analysis of the situation. I appreciate your inclusion of background information about the brand to support your overall assessment of the information. In the future, consider linking and referring to more sources that can help legitimize your claims that you present. This one is difficult because there seems to be a lack of evidence, but even linking SHEIN's page with no announcements for closure-- or maybe announcements contradicting their closure would be helpful. Thanks!
+1 vote
by Novice (550 points)

Based on the information provided by a random user on the platform TikTok and the research I conducted upon the claim made, there is no evidence nor confirmation on behalf of anyone in the company that they will be coming to a close. The information had no evidentiary support to support the statement made and there has been no disclosed information about it. The page Urban Matter (https://urbanmatter.com/are-the-rumors-about-shien-closing-in-2024-true/) claims that there is no confirmation or suspicion that the site will be shut down "despite several controversies and legal problems," describing their opinion on the company. There is misleading TikTok content being made about this rumor and is further spreading a false claim. 

Exaggerated/ Misleading
+2 votes
by Novice (730 points)

This claim is false. Shein has not made any formal announcements regarding its closure or its intentions to do so in 2024. After reading the original piece, I discovered a few facts that led me to doubt its accuracy. First, there are only 23 comments on the article compared to almost 400K likes, which is a strange ratio. It appears from this that the person is removing comments. I'm not sure what the comments were, but I'm guessing they disagreed with the assertion, which is why they were removed. My investigation indicates that insufficient data is available to determine the veracity of this claim. Shein has not issued a statement endorsing or concurring with this assertion. The business is still operating despite the controversies and accusations against Shein. As of right now, the allegation is only conjecture. Seekers of free credit or gift cards claim that clicking on these links will take you to a three-question survey asking about your online shopping frequency, whether you buy there, and how you would utilize the credits or money. Your email is requested after completing the survey. Following that, you are able to take part in a rewards program where you have to purchase in order to get prizes or free credits. Knowing this implies that there was more to the article than just correct facts being shared, and that there was a purpose other than giving information.

https://urbanmatter.com/are-the-rumors-about-shien-closing-in-2024-true/

False

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