When shopping online, a few clicks can suddenly add up to a cart worth thousands of dollars that students may not be able to pay. Photo courtesy of freshman Mallory Cushing.

  A San Luis Obispo High School student’s demanding schedule doesn’t always allow time for sifting through racks downtown or waiting in line to try on clothes in dressing rooms. Therefore, many students opt for the less time consuming version: online shopping.

  However, online shopping platforms use addicting algorithms to lure potential customers in. Once they have customers scrolling through the website adding things to their cart, a coupon pops up, then a promo code, and then a membership discount. One click leads to another and people are trapped with their ever growing shopping cart full of expensive item after expensive item.

  “I like online shopping because it’s way easier to find the things I want. Sometimes when I’m shopping in person they don’t have things I was looking for, then I go online and I’m like ‘wow, why did I waste my time and money when they have it here?’” said freshman Makiyah Nozil.

  Instant gratification is the addicting feeling humans experience when their needs or desires get fulfilled immediately. People like to shop online because it almost doesn’t feel like they’re spending real money. This is where the addiction comes into play. As soon as students finalize their purchase with the easy click of a button, they are rewarded with a package at their door in the next few days.

  “I prefer to shop in person, but when I do shop online I use platforms like Depop or eBay. I don’t really love online shopping, but I used it a lot over the holiday season. I like when you find a steal or deal in person and when I shop online I don’t really get the same feeling as when I’m in person,” said junior Graham Teitge. 

  While some people are addicted to filling up their online shopping cart, others still prefer the ‘old way’ of shopping. Touching and trying on is one thing students miss when purchasing online, but when in a pinch, online shopping websites come through with their speedy  deliveries. In 2024, twenty-nine percent of American consumers preferred to shop online versus the enormous forty-five percent of consumers who preferred to shop in-store.

  “I prefer to shop online because I’m usually more successful in finding things. My favorite online shopping stores are Brandy Melville or Levi’s. I probably shop online two or three times a week, I’d say I’m kinda addicted,” said freshman Maddie Petit.

  Online shopping holds so much more inventory versus what we may see in stores Downtown. The reason why SLOHS students are addicted to online shopping is because in SLO, we don’t have nearly as many stores or in-store shopping abilities as other cities, making finding what students want online so much easier. Out of all people born into Gen Z, seventy-three percent of people say they shop online daily, and admit they are addicted to it. 

  Whether people like it or not, online shopping and the addiction behind instant gratification has become more prominent in our world now than ever before. 

Sources: capitaloneshopping.com, marketingprofs.com, ec.europa.eu