TRENDS IN ONLINE SHOPPING: IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND MOBILE APPS ON CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR                         

INTRODUCTION                                      

                Nowadays, online shopping is drastically increasing. People choose online shopping instead of traditional shopping because it is more convenient and easier to use. Most of the users are young people. Online shopping is trending now, even though it has many disadvantages. Most of the time, people are scammed, and lots of people lose their money because of it.

Social media platforms also play a major role in online shopping, as influencers on social media influence most people. The major social media platforms used for online shopping are 

Facebook, Instagram, etc

                                        The  Major drawback of online shopping is not enough security and privacy policies for its customers. Lots of people cancel their carts because of not enough security for the payment and their private information.

                           The most Popular e-commerce platforms for online shopping are Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart, etc. People use these apps for purchasing various products like house utensils, clothes, groceries, gifts, etc. They are more comfortable purchasing products for their loved ones. Mobile apps have revolutionized online shopping by providing speed, personalization,  and a seamless user experience. They help businesses boost engagement, sales, and customer loyalty.

• Customer support integration
• Offline assess
• Enhanced user interface
• Loyalty & Rewards
• Faster transactions
• Personalised experience
• Easy accessibility

Nearly 60% of consumers shop on e-commerce sites. People were attracted by their various lower price variations and discount offers. The most famous e-commerce platform is AMAZON. It plays a crucial role in Online streaming,  Digital advertising, and

Artificial intelligence 

ADVANTAGES OF MOBILE APP OBJECTIVES

• Easy to use and time-saving
• More convenient
• Enhance consumer experience
• Identify a new opportunity for the customer

ADVANTAGES

• Convenience and Accessibility
• Wider product variety
• Better prices and discounts
• Customer reviews and ratings

DISADVANTAGES

• Delayed delivery
• No physical inspection
• Chances of scamming
• Privacy concerns

ROLE OF MOBILE APPS ON ONLINE SHOPPING

ADVANTAGES OF MOBILE APPS ON ONLINE SHOPPING

• Convenience and Accessibility
• Faster and smoother experience
• Personalised shopping
• Secure transactions

DISADVANTAGES OF MOBILE APPS ON ONLINE SHOPPING

• Security risks
• Dependence on internet connection
• Battery and data usage
• Impulsive buying and overuse

SUGGESTIONS AND FINDINGS

          The study’s overall findings reveal people’s major insecurity about online shopping. Their main insecurity was a lack of a security and privacy policy. They are unsure about giving their personal information in shopping apps. Because of this, most people are unsure about purchasing products online. They abandoned their carts because of the fear of being scammed. Lots of people become victims of scammers.

Even though people started purchasing products online again. Most of the people suggested a more secure payment system and data privacy. There are several ways to improve the experience of online shopping, some of them are; 

• User-friendly website design
• High-quality product images and descriptions
• Customer reviews and ratings
• Simplified checkout products
• Excellent customer service
• Personalised shopping experience
• Transparent policies
• Friendly environment

PROCEDURES TO OVERCOME SCAMMING 

To reduce scamming in online shopping, prioritize buying from trusted and verified websites using secure payment methods like a credit card. Regularly check bank statements for tracking any suspicious activity. If any illegal activity is noticed, report it immediately to the officials to eliminate fraud. To overcome scamming, prioritize security measures like strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and keeping software updated. We should be aware of suspicious links and numbers that contact you to offer rewards and discounts for shopping products. Online scamming includes different practices used by scammers to manipulate customers into revealing their personal and banking information to steal their money and goods. They create fake websites, fake emails, or non-delivery scams

SIGNIFICANCE OF ONLINE SHOPPING

Online shopping has become significant nowadays. People start to incorporate it into their everyday lives. People often choose the online shopping method rather than the traditional shopping method because of its convenience, time-saving benefits, various discounts, and rewards. People often can buy different wide variety of products from different parts of the world. Online shopping often allows efficient comparison of prices, easy returns, and different payment options, making it a preferred method for many consumers. The convenience of internet shopping, which is accessible from the comfort of your home or office around the clock, is one of its primary benefits.

                                                                     Online shopping emerged in India in 1995, and the early birth of e-commerce ventures like Indiatimes, Yahoo, and Sify. Online purchasing has grown tremendously due to a number of causes.

• The growth of internet usage leads to the growth of online shopping
• Many retailers put affordable prices on their products to attract different types of consumers
• Online shopping gives convenience to customers to purchase different products from different parts of the world through a simple click
• Online shopping provides different payment methods for consumers and also provides options like online payment or cash on delivery 
• The most famous online shopping platforms are Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, etc.
• The rise of the power of middle-class families also helped to increase the power of online shopping

CONCLUSION

Through the studies, we can realize that online shopping has become a daily part of our world. These days, people are becoming less interested in traditional marketing.. Online shopping has lots of advantages and disadvantages, even though the sales through the internet are increasing every second. Millions of sales were done in seconds. Online shopping also gives a tremendous opportunity to customers to experience different products.

But these opportunities were utilized by people to commit fraud. They scam people by providing them with fake emails and links to get their personal information and account statements. Most people become victims of online scamming fraud. It is one of the main reasons people abandon their carts. Some of the reasons for people abandoning their carts are glitches in the apps, Data and security concerns, Fear of losing personal information, payment issues, etc. The use of features like AI recommendations, global accessibility, Influence of social media gives online shopping sales rapid growth. More people often use social media for online purchases, they are influenced by the recommendations of online influencers. The most famous social media apps are Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc.