Compulsive shopping is now more easily achieved and abused with online shopping. This is a type of internet addiction which, like online gambling, has an offline counterpart. Signs of addiction and compulsion would be that you spend money regardless and you buy things that you most likely do not even need or want and when you try to cut back you suffer withdrawal from not being online and shopping. A more complete list of symptoms can be found here.
This form of internet addiction can easily lead an individual into serious financial nightmares if not put under control early on. The reasons that people seem to become addicted to online shopping would be the convenience, they feel as if it is not real money that they are spending, and it can help relieve stress for some individuals when they feel the rush and excitement of buying anything and everything. If you or someone you know seems to exhibit an addiction to online shopping, do your best to control your tendencies or if it is someone you know find ways to help bring them offline more often. If more assistance is required, there is no need to be ashamed in seeking it as any addiction can be rather difficult to deal with.
I agree, it is a lot easier to spend money online. They say credit cards are more dangerous than cash because you are not giving up anything physical when you make a purchase. In my opinion, this becomes even more so when purchasing online because you are not even tendering to a cashier, just simply entering in a few numbers. Also, because you are most likely shopping online for a deal, this further reduces guilt.
ReplyDeleteOnline shopping has become more and more addicting! Personally, I love online shopping. Who doesn't? You are able to sit comfortably in your own home and shop for whatever. A lot of the time, the website has more products to choose from. The payment options make it just as addicting. For example, on Amazon you are able to pay in just "one-click." Amazon saves all of your information under your account with them. Therefore, you do not have to keep putting in all of your card information! No worries if you have more than one card, it saves the information of all the cards on your account and you just choose which one you would like to use.
ReplyDeleteOnline shopping definitely increases the addictive potential of shopping and spending. The convenience online shopping provides to consumers makes it too easy for people to lose track of the amount of money they are spending which can ultimately have harmful consequences such as financial trouble. Many compulsive shoppers have been known to suffer mood disorders. The shopping and spending activity itself is associated with a feeling of happiness and power, which is immediately gratifying for them and allows them to achieve a brief emotional high. Shopping online makes it even faster, easier, and more convenient for their destructive spending habits. It is even more difficult for a compulsive shopper to regulate their shopping habits online. They can spend without noticing the true amount of cash they have burnt through.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the reasons for online shopping addictions is the ease of completing a transaction. This, from personal experience, increases the likelihood of a consumer making a spur of the moment purchase. Another enabler of sorts is the ability for businesses to more effectively use promotions over the internet. I have on many occasions bought things online when my intentions were to simply browse. I guess I am kind of an online shopping addict.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that online shopping can easily turn into an addiction. I've seen this show on MTV where these people where taking out second mortgages to support there habits. However this was not online. I have a theory that it would be even worse online because you do not physically have money passing from your hand to someone else. Do you think there is any validity in my theory?
ReplyDeleteIn response to your question Quinesha, your theory is shared with many about why online shopping tends to lead to addiction. The lack of physical currency being traded tends to make it easier for individuals to accept paying out more and more. So yes there is validity in your theory.
ReplyDeleteI might have an addiction to shopping for used books on Amazon. Just recently, I got into the habit of buying used business books but I never read them. I probably have 20-30 books sitting in my room right now that I have never opened.
ReplyDeleteI keep convincing myself that I will read them but I never find any time for it.