Online Shopping Is Making Us Accumulate More Garbage

The Atlantic (08/21/2018)
  • Convenience and great deals from online shopping (Amazon) have made Americans more likely to buy things they don’t need.
  • Research shows that shopping in itself releases a dopamine high of pleasure in our brains.
  • 100 million Americans are Amazon prime members, paying $119 for “free” 2-day shipping.
  • In 2017, Americans spent $240 billion on small consumer goods such as books and luggage (+100% since 2002) and $918 (average) on clothes (+20% since 2000).
  • 90% don’t go through hassle of returning items.