The Impact of the Internet, by George

There is no doubt that technological advancement has brought about a new era in the way we buy and sell goods. Admittedly, the invention that has had the greatest impact is that of the Internet. The advent of the Internet gave rise to online shopping, which is gaining more and more momentum. Online shopping has transformed the consumer behaviour as well as certain aspects of their lives in both positive and negative ways.

To begin with, we should consider the benefits of buying and selling goods and services online. First and foremost, the main advantage of online shopping is its convenience. Customers do not have to show up in a store to buy what they need - rather, they do so in the comfort of their house. All you need is a device with internet connectivity, be it a computer, smartphone, or tablet. A further advantage of online shopping is that it enables you to access a much broader market - a market that transcends the narrow borders of your country. A person in Europe can purchase something in the US and have it delivered at home at the simple press of a button. This means that you have access to more products - products that may not be available at the local shops. On top of that, online shops often have various filtering sorting capabilities that allow you to quickly find what you are searching for. Another feature that makes online shopping very attractive is the fact that the products usually have detailed customer reviews and ratings. Thus customers can in some cases get a better feeling of the product quality, a capability that you do not have when you buy something at a regular shop. The experience of using a product is very different to the impression you get at the shop. By reading customer reviews you have the opportunity to learn things like the durability or the performance of a product.

 As mentioned above, the Internet has influenced the way we sell products as well. Although not as many people sell online as they buy, selling used items has become a lot easier since the advent of the Internet and especially the creation of online ads and auction sites. Traditionally, people sold belongings they did not need anymore by publishing ads in newspapers. In this time and age, posting advertisements online has become very popular. Since selling things has been made easier, more and more people are selling old belongings.

On the other hand, online trading does not have only advantages. Shopping at the local stores is also a social activity. It is for many people a good opportunity to meet up and spend time together. Now that more and more people shop online, they meet less often to do their shopping together. Another important aspect of e-shopping relates to security. There are cases where people have fallen victims of fraud - where credit card data have been stolen, and thieves have withdrawn a large amount of money from bank accounts. Today online payments are generally safe, but still there are vulnerabilities that can be exploited by internet thieves. Last but not least, online shopping has had an impact on local economies, too. The capability to buy a product cheaper and import it from another country benefit large international stores at the expense of the local ones.

All in all, the Internet has had a considerable impact on the way we buy and sell goods and by extension on our lives. It has opened a window to a broader market and has made purchasing easier and more convenient. On the other hand, as a result of this convenience people tend to meet less to do their shopping together.