Covid19 boosted e-commerce regionally. new ecom apps pays recurring referrals to referee/joinee. Product distribution By e-commerce. New member acquisition by referral. Is tis viable as side hustle?

Covid certainly boosted e-commerce because consumers are getting used to the convenience brought upon by e-commerce.

Earning money from referral should not be considered as a side hustle. You would want to earn money when there is an exchange of value. For e-commerce, there is a transfer of goods and services. Are the goods real? Are the services real?

You have to ask yourself what the apps gained from paying you to get more people into the e-commerce app. Because, simply giving out money, the business model is not sustainable. In other words, there may be hidden cost or fees. Are you asked to upload your bank/card information? Is there a hidden membership fee? Or do they steal your information (location, phone file information)? Be wary of Ponzi scheme or scam.

However, there is such a e-commerce service called dropshipping which you help to deliver goods from the wholesalers to the consumers with no inventory on hand. In that case, you would have to source quality products and goods provided, provide the fulfilment services and do marketing yourself