Shopping Online: Has Technology Gone Too Far?
Online shopping has existed ever since the birth of the internet. Before this, people bought things via the phone from TV commercials – so the idea of purchasing something from the comfort of your own home is nothing new, really.
Yet in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, when online shopping became the go-to way of buying new products, experts are asking questions about whether online shopping technology has gone too far.
In this blog, we will explore the ups and downs of using tech to shop, and explore how the future of online shopping could look!
Is shopping online bad?
No – online shopping is not completely bad, or completely good. Like most aspects of our society, it is a complicated process that involves many factors. Online shopping has led to the creation of millions of jobs around the world, in factories, delivery and manufacturing alike. Plus, it has helped people who struggle to shop in person, such as disabled people, the elderly, or those shielding due to COVID-19. There are plenty of brilliant things about online shopping!
So why is shopping online a problem at all? Simply put, technology has enabled us to tap our phones a few times and spend hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in minutes – without even leaving the couch. This can lead to financial issues if people become too trigger-happy.
In addition, there’s the question of legitimacy. While there are amazing ways to shop online now, such as digital showroom software for cars, there are other brands that essentially scam people into buying a low quality product.
Has online shopping technology harmed the environment?
The climate crisis is a big topic of discussion in modern politics – and rightly so. Many people argue that our ability to shop profusely, ordering basically anything we want at the click of a button, is bad for the environment. “Fast fashion” is a term that is thrown around a lot, meaning clothes and objects that are low quality, last a short amount of time, and wind up in landfill.
You could argue, however, technology itself isn’t to blame here. Technology is meant to make our lives easier – and it certainly does that! – so can we really be blamed for using it to have access to more things? Isn’t that the point? Many people believe that the blame doesn’t lie in technology itself, but actually in those who allow it to be exploited for selfish gain.
What’s the future of online shopping technology?
The internet isn’t going away anytime soon. It is unlikely, therefore, that people will stop online shopping altogether. Online shopping isn’t an issue itself, but it is true that the ability to order whatever we want at the touch of a button is a little troubling!
Ultimately, technology is not the enemy. Tech has brought so many phenomenal advances to our kind – from medicine, to transport, to ecological research – so it would be hard to argue that it is anything but revolutionary!
However, there are some aspects to online shopping tech that we should question. Will you think twice the next time you shop online?