According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an addiction is a strong need to regularly have or do something. Based on this definition, I would more or less consider myself addicted to online shopping. In recent months, I have noticed myself buying more and more things online. And when I am not buying, I am browsing, which sounds more sensible, but can be just as counterproductive.
As ashamed as I am about my pathetic diagnosis, I do really enjoy the process of online shopping. Maybe I am just basic beyond belief, but I love mindlessly scrolling through a store's website and adding items to my cart regardless of whether or not I plan on purchasing them. Nevertheless, when I do buy something, there is a certain thrill that I get when I press the confirm order button and know that, somewhere, somehow, a package is en route to my front door. Also, I have developed a habit of regularly tracking my orders online, and I get way more excited that I should when I see the words “Free Shipping.” Point proven, I am addicted.
In all seriousness, the internet has truly revolutionized consumerism. Now-a-days, anything and everything you could ever want is available to you literally at the touch of your fingertips. No more sorting through countless racks of clothing or walking down endless aisles of products. Instead, you can type a few keywords into a search bar and voila, ten ideal items available for purchase. Not only can you more easily specify what you are looking for, but many sites link you directly to the reviews on the clothes or products you are considering for purchase, making the choosing process even easier. Online shopping is especially helpful to the wonderfully busy people who don't have the time to spend hours sifting through clothes at a mall; and it is equally as helpful to the wonderfully lazy people who simply do not want to leave the comfort of their couches.
However, online shopping can be harmful in more ways than one. There is the obvious monetary issue that we all run into from time to time. Seeing how much you owe on your credit summary after a month of binge buying is never fun. Since everything is simply at the click of a button, it is difficult to really gage how much you are spending, and it makes it easy to buy more than you should as you do not see any immediate consequences. Likewise, every once in a while you get a dress that doesn't quite fit right or that looked completely different in the picture. And then shipping the item back, a feat that I have yet to tackle, is such a hassle in itself that you wish you would have just physically gone to the store instead.
In addition, the progress of digital consumerism in the past decade has led to serious problems for the shopping mall franchise. Now that people have the ability to choose from a wide variety of products without having to leave their homes, less are making trips to the malls, resulting in store closures and mall closures. After all, why would you bother to drive 20 minutes to the nearest mall when everything is available online.
Despite the negatives, online shopping has definitely made life a heck of a lot easier for me and for many others. And I, personally, cannot wait to see the impact that advances in technology have on the online retail industry.
