Optimal Finance Daily · Thursday, September 3, 2026
Britt identifies sale emails and social media advertisements as significant triggers for her compulsive online shopping. She notes that online shopping was a dream come true for her as an introvert, allowing purchases without leaving home and receiving items quickly.
“Sale emails were probably my number one trigger. They seemed like free money delivered right to your inbox.”
“On social media, ads on Instagram are particularly potent. It's harder to tell reality from carefully crafted and paid for narrative.”
“So when online shopping exploded in the 2000s, it was basically my dream come true. I never had to leave my house, and beautiful, amazing things I needed were delivered right to my door.”