Why Online Shopping Is So Much Harder for Today’s 20-Somethings Than It Was For Gen-Xers

When I was in my twenties in the 1990s, online shopping was… clunky. Slow. Honestly, a little weird.

You’d fire up a desktop computer, dial into the internet (yes, that screechy dial-up sound), and browse a few basic sites. Amazon mostly sold books. eBay was like a garage sale. You had to work to find what you were looking for. There were no real-time alerts, personalized ads, or digital nudges trying to get you to add more to your cart.

Fast forward to today — and the experience couldn’t be more different.

Shopping Has Become a 24/7 Digital Feed

Today’s 20-somethings aren’t just shopping online. They're swimming in an always-on, always-optimized experience that’s designed to keep them scrolling, clicking, and buying.

Companies now use teams of behavioral scientists, UX psychologists, and neuroeconomics experts to shape what we see, when we see it, and how we react.

Let me give you a glimpse into what shopping online looks like today:

Infinite scrolls keep you browsing longer without realizing it.

Push notifications nudge you with “last chance” reminders or flash deals.

Algorithms serve up “just for you” items based on what you clicked two days ago.

Gamified rewards give little hits of dopamine — spin the wheel, unlock a badge, earn points.

Scarcity messages like “Only 2 left in stock!” create urgency.

What used to be a utility is now engineered for engagement and emotional response. The goal isn’t just to help you shop — it’s to keep you coming back.

This Isn’t About Blame — It’s About Awareness

If you're in your 20s and feel overwhelmed by how easy it is to overspend online, please know: it's not a personal failure. The system is literally built to pull you in.

That’s why we started Simplify Adulting — to help you understand the systems that shape your choices and give you tools to take back control. Once you see how it all works, it gets a lot easier to make intentional choices.

Ready to Break the Scroll-and-Spend Cycle?

We’ve created a free Starter Pack that helps you take the first step:
👉 Understand how digital money traps work
👉 Create a spending system that reflects your values
👉 Learn simple ways to reduce stress around money

Grab the Simplify Adulting Starter Pack HERE