Shopping online has grown dramatically over the past decade. The convenience of clicking away and then unpacking delivered boxes certainly has it's appeal. Who doesn't like to receive a gift in the mail (even though you paid for it yourself?) During the COVID era, even home shoppers risked buying multi-million-dollar homes by simply viewing them online.

The younger generation may be leading a trend forward, though, as humans seek human interaction again after isolating themselves in the digital universe. Shoppers between the ages of 18 and 24 bought 62% of their total general merchandise purchases in stores last year, while those aged 25 and older, by contrast, made 52% of their purchases in person. (Circana). Some attribute this to the desire for instant gratification. But this trend probably reveals something many miss. The human interaction of real life, almost entirely missing in the lonely digital world. Seeing things in the flesh. Touching, feeling, exploring, searching, perusing, chatting, seeing facial expressions, discussing, getting real human opinions, doing so with friends, meeting new friends. Influencers snap pictures of themselves in showrooms and dressing rooms, not pictures of themselves at a computer or with their phone perusing some stores online.

Online has distorted lots of perceptions too.  Home shoppers (and agents) today view and preview homes online for the first time, the way they used to attend open houses in the past. The attendance at many open houses has dropped dramatically over the decade. This results in a physical showing being a kin to the second showing, while leaving some sellers aghast at dismal open house turnout or even the number of physical showings via appointment. Television is another victim. While 5 million people may have 'tuned in' to see a show live, how many more millions watched it via streaming later on their phone or computer or select snippets of it? We have officially been living in the Digital world for many years already without fully acknowledging it.