E-commerce and online shopping have revolutionized the way that we buy things and interact with products. There are plenty of upsides when considering convenience and affordability, but it is important to remember what we are losing with the death of the shopping mall and brick-and-mortar stores.
Gone are the days of buying a collection of CDs and DVDs; everything has an app. The experience of working through vinyl records and CDs to see whether you like different music is gone, except for niche interests and vintage buyers.
Buying music CDs was a commitment, and you had to like at least half of the songs to make it a worthy purchase. With the rise of all of the streaming apps for movies and television shows, it’s easier to pick and choose certain episodes that you like, rather than purchasing a DVD of a season where you might only like a few of the episodes, leaving you stuck with the others.
Sure, there is much benefit to this convenience, but part of the human experience is getting out and trying things. Having all of the media we consume be digital and algorithm-tailored to individual preferences can take away from new things we might enjoy, and can completely eliminate healthy delayed gratification.
Per a poll by the American Psychological Association, most U.S. adults reported feeling isolated or lacking companionship often or some of the time. According to the National Library of Medicine, loneliness and social anxiety can worsen depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, cardiovascular health, immune health and neuroendocrine health.
If nothing else, shopping in public spaces, particularly malls, was an opportunity for social interaction. Some needed this specific venue more than others but regardless, online shopping strips us all of this opportunity.
As someone who is only in their early thirties, it saddens me to see the shopping mall, that I remember looking forward to visiting, has only around three shops and a couple of restaurants. I recall my younger days when the mall was a place where you could go to find everything you wanted to purchase.
Whether it be a pair of dress shoes at Boscov’s or a CD of your favorite album at FYE, there was a store for everyone’s interests and different places to seek out items you may have been waiting months to get your hands on.
Now, you can go to a television show that you enjoy watching and choose the episodes that you resonate with best, or purchase them individually and browse for products online according to algorithms that advertisers think fit you best. Also, with the rise of streaming services in which you can pay to eliminate advertisements, you can binge watch a series in a few weeks instead of having to wait until the next episode is released and get behind on what is happening in that series.
To reiterate, there is merit in this convenience. But, in an age of already worsening attention spans, how much room for growth and gratitude are we missing out on?
The demise of the shopping mall is a sad spectacle. People used to make a day out of trying clothes on, testing out products in person and sharing the experience with friends or acquaintances. Now, the most optimal way to shop often overlooks this and adds to the risk of regretted purchasing after not getting to test out the products. Is that a worthy trade-off for optimization?
Looking at online reviews can be useful, but too often, a product that some consider it five stars can also be given a one-star review by others. Shopping in-person can help you make up your own mind about the product, and you can judge for yourself before purchasing.
Most of this will come down to personal preference, but as the generations go by and children grow up with families that do not or are unable to have these experiences in person, we begin to exponentially expand the risk that social spaces will become limited or entirely unavailable.
