Due to convenience and ease, the act of online shopping has become very popular. If you can think it, you’ll find it online. With online shopping you can immediately find out if your items are available and sometimes you can be offered free shipping with a minimum purchase. Online shopping includes activities such as clothing purchases, movie rentals, etc. Even for Cornell students, online shopping is useful for purchasing cheap textbooks that the Cornell store overprices or making an late night order when you become to lazy to make a phone call. As a result, online shopping can lead to problematic internet use, since it can be conveniently shipped to your door step.
Caplan’s theory of problematic internet use is described as a person having problematic behavior related to spending too much time online. First of all, he stated that individuals with psychosocial problems hold negative perceptions about their social competence (although it might not be true, they think believe it). For example, a person suffering anxiety might find it hard to leave their homes and face others. They constantly fear that other individuals may be looking or talking about them when they really aren’t. As a result, people with that problem are more likely to stay at home and potentially find online shopping useful to avoid leaving their homes. They can order everything they need to their door instead of having to interact with other people face to face. Caplan also claims that individuals with psychosocial problems prefer online interaction because it’s less threatening and they feel more efficacious. Once again, this supports what I mentioned earlier. An individual suffering from anxiety would find online shopping as less threatening than going out to shop for what they need. Online shopping doesn’t involve a salesperson and doesn’t involve others customers but just you and the company you’re trying to purchase something from. Only the companies know what you purchased but their intentions are just to make money from you, not what you purchase. When you make purchases in person, this is different because while you wait in line to pay, other customers will most likely look at what you’re purchasing because they’re bored waiting online. Finally, Caplan talks about a preference for online interaction will lead to excessive and compulsive online interaction which then worsens their problems at school, home, and work. As an individual with psychosocial problems realize the convenience of online shopping and the relief from interacting with others, they may increasingly shop online to the point they have a problem. The process is simple, you find what you want, provide your billing information, and then you wait for your shipment. The addiction becomes a cycle where people with psychosocial problems develop more severe psychosocial problems due to excessive, compulsive internet use (in this case, online shopping). It is especially harmful to online shop because individuals tend to lose track of online transactions with credit cards (so beware!).
Online shopping has unique features. Individuals can look for anything they want to purchase without stepping out of their homes or leaving their computer. In the previous sentence, it is important to recognize two features, purchasing ANYTHING and the fact that you won’t have to leave your home. Especially around holidays, many items you are looking for become out of stock in stores so the internet becomes very useful to find those items. In addition, the internet is always accessible and the websites are most likely always available (except under maintenance), so individuals can shop online any time of day. When I’m sick of doing work or I’m bored, I tend to “window shop” online, looking for things I want without making any purchases (just to make sure I don’t go broke). Also, many sites online include shopping guides where individuals can list what kinds of things they are looking for and the site gives results based on your preferences. Moreover, they can also compare the different items.
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2 comments:
Selina,
Your post about online shopping becoming a problematic internet use is a really great choice. I think the aspects of online shopping that you mentioned are very good and we can definelty see why one can be addicted to such a thing. Anonymity is a very big factor that you talk about. Caplan (2003) also suggested this when he mentioned how lonely and depressed individuals have a more negative stance of themselves while interacting with others. This makes them eager to interact online where their identities will be anonymous. Therefore, internet use can be more addicting and, in turn, can influence the whole viscous cycle of PIU. I also liked your remarks on how easy internet can make online shopping. This can lead to what Davis et. al. (2002) refer to as diminished impulse control. People can start spending money online without blocks and can even hinder their life at work, school, home etc.
I tend to window shop as well when I'm bored. I absolutely agree. Caplan predicts problematic internet usage for the individuals you mentioned since the internet does make it easier for them. More so economic then psychosocial, most people I know tend to shop online since it's mostly by credit and typing in a couple of numbers (or in the case of paypal, just logging in) doesn't really seem like spending money. Now, even food can be ordered online. However, I don't think it's ever going to get to the point where people are going to be shopping online exclusively. I mean, what would Black Friday sales look like?
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