In recent years, many small local shops have closed because customers travel to large shopping centres or malls to do their shopping. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

11. Shopping is now one of the most popular forms of leisure activity in many countries for young adults. Why is this? Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?


In the past, shopping used to be considered as a chore by most youngsters. However, recently it has become a free-time activity young people usually engage in in many parts of the world. Although there are some valid reasons why this is happening, in my view, this change is generally negative.




The reasons for shopping becoming one of the most common hobbies among people under 35 are clear to see. Firstly, many young people see shopping as a status symbol. In other words, they think that if they browse through expensive shops in their free time, their peers see them as rich. In addition, large shopping malls offer a wider range of comforts that other activities usually do not match. This means that young people can enjoy a variety of entertainment.

Clearly, such conveniences and recognition has led to the growth in leisure shopping among the young.

However, I think the trend towards shopping in spare time is a negative one overall. Firstly, going to shops often costs much more than other hobbies. For example, a young women who shops for fun can easily spend $500 per week, whereas free time activities like going to the gym accounts for 20-30 dollars. Secondly, shopping damages the environment more than any other hobby does. Shopping malls are typically located far away from residential areas, which means youngsters use their cars or public transport that pollute the air. Indeed, these damages for both personal budget and the air are not insignificant.
In conclusion, despite the factors contributing to the increase in shopping as a hobby among young people, personally I feel that this trend brings more serious problems to both the environment and the young concerned. Therefore, they should spend less time on shopping while they are free.