With online shopping becoming easier than ever, a movement called "No Buy 2025" is gaining popularity. Social media apps encourage impulse buying by offering in-app purchases and easy payment options, making it difficult for users to resist. One participant, Cassandra Orakpo, realized she was accumulating unnecessary items and compared her shopping habit to hoarding. Studies show that Americans spent $71 billion on social media impulse buys in a year, and companies are increasing their advertising budgets to target buyers even more effectively. Retailers use tracking technologies like cookies to analyze users’ interests and personalize advertisements. To fight the urge to buy, Cassandra made a pledge on TikTok and took practical steps, such as unsubscribing from brand emails and adjusting social media settings. She found that muting ads and making small changes helped her feel more in control. Experts suggest resisting temptation by limiting exposure to ads and creating a dedicated email for purchases.
Vocabulary:
• craving (noun): A strong desire for something.
• temptation (noun): The urge to do something, especially when it is not good for you.
• bombarded (verb): To be overwhelmed with a large number of messages or advertisements.
• consume (verb): To buy or use products, food, or media.
• impulse (noun): A sudden and strong urge to do something.
• habit (noun): A repeated behavior, often done without thinking.
• hoarding (noun): The act of collecting and keeping too many items, often unnecessarily.
• survey (noun): A study where people answer questions to gather data.
• advertising (noun): The business of promoting products to encourage people to buy them.
• tracking (noun): The process of monitoring online activity to collect data.
• cookies (noun): Small files used by websites to store user information and track browsing habits.
• unsubscribe (verb): To remove yourself from a mailing list or notifications.
• muting (verb): To stop receiving or seeing certain content, such as advertisements.
• pledge (noun): A serious promise or commitment.
• retailer (noun): Business that sells products directly to consumers.
Source: Good Morning America