Online Shopping

What is Online Shopping?

Online shopping is electronic commerce (e-commerce) and is the "conducting of business communication and transactions over networks and through computers. As most restrictively defined, electronic commerce is the buying and selling of goods and services, and the transfer of funds, through digital communications."

Online shopping has changed the shopping habits of many people. Books and music are two of the biggest sellers. Many of the traditional "brick and mortar" stores now have virtual storefronts online. It is quick and convenient to go online, research and purchase an item without having to leave your home. The virtual store fronts are designed to make shopping and purchasing an item as easy as possible.

Dangers:

It is so easy to shop online that it is easy to overspend and build up credit card debt. Parents should be very cautious when letting teens shop online. Many inappropriate items are available for sale on the Internet, including drugs, alcohol, tobacco and weapons.

The fact that you are transmitting your credit card number over the network is also a concern. Make certain that the site is using SSL (Secure Socket Layer). One indication is a little padlock or key icon (image) will appear in the status bar at the bottom of the browser. In addition, the normal "http://" in the address bar at the top should read "https://". The SSL encrypts or scrambles your data for transmission to the server. Some sites will retain the credit card number in their database so that you do not have to transmit the number every time, however, you are trusting that they have a secure database, and all database backups are handled in a secure fashion.

Be cautious and use well-known retailers, after all anyone can put up a site. There have been instances of fraudulent sites that take orders and payment and shut down without ever delivering the product.

Resources:

Online shopping Council of Europe Internet Literacy Handbook
Online Auction guide http://www.geekgirls.com/menu_internet_auctions.htm
The BeSafeOnline site, from the UK, has an excellent page on online shopping
    http://www.besafeonline.org/English/shopping_online.htm