Do you remember what it was like to have your mom give you a ride to the mall and spend the day grazing the stores for hours on end? I barely do. With the rise of online shopping and protocols due to the COVID-19 outbreak, indoor shopping is dying out and malls and shopping centers are taking a financial hit. With the convenience and variety offered by online retailers, more people are opting to shop online instead of visiting physical stores. In return, this is definitely impacting the business of traditional brick-and-mortar stores.

Despite the convenience, online shopping isn’t all perks. It can be worse to shop online because you can’t try on or physically see the items before purchasing. There is also a risk of scams or receiving faulty products. Also, smaller businesses everywhere are suffering as they’re getting less exposure. Think about it: Black Friday used to be a day of chaos and shocking new articles would be released about violence erupting in the crowds of people that would funnel in stores. Since then, the game has been changed, and you’re able to shop from the comfort of your own bedroom. Do you think the rise of online shopping has benefited society, or do you believe it’s killing the joy of shopping in a mall and ultimately causing issues for businesses?