**TikTok, the short-form video app owned by ByteDance, is considering banning external e-tail site links in a bid to boost its own in-app shopping experience, according to a report in The Information.**
The move, if confirmed, would be a significant shift for TikTok, which has allowed users to link to external websites, including e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Shopify, since its launch in 2016.
The report claims that TikTok has been testing the ban with a small group of users in the United States and is planning to roll it out more widely if the results are positive.
A TikTok spokesperson declined to comment on the report, but did say that the company is .
