As the Internet permeates every aspect of the economy and society, it is also becoming an essential element of our children’s lives. While it can bring considerable benefits for their education and development, it also exposes them to online risks such as access to inappropriate content, harmful interactions with other children or with adults, and exposure to aggressive marketing practices. Children online can also put their computer systems at risk and disseminate their personal data without understanding the potential long-term privacy consequences.
The development of innovative and easy-to-use payment systems by financial institutions and other businesses (such as mobile operators and Internet companies) has helped to support rapid growth in e-commerce, in many cases providing consumers with more effective, convenient, and secure ways to purchase an expanding variety of products, including digital goods and services. It has also helped to address problems consumers may experience with vendors when, for example, products do not meet expectations or are not delivered. However, the following analysis of online and mobile payment systems suggests that their role in facilitating transactions and empowering consumers in e-commerce could be strengthened by addressing a number of ongoing and emerging challenges.
Americans are incorporating a wide range of digital tools and platforms into their purchasing decisions and buying habits, according to a Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults. The survey finds that roughly eight-in-ten Americans are now online shoppers: 79% have made an online purchase of any type, while 51% have bought something using a cellphone and 15% have made purchases by following a link from social media sites.
To borrow an expression from the technology industry, harassment is now a “feature” of life online for many Americans. In its milder forms, it creates a layer of negativity that people must sift through as they navigate their daily routines online. At its most severe, it can compromise users’ privacy, force them to choose when and where to participate online, or even pose a threat to their physical safety.
Amid growing concern over social media’s impact and influence on today’s youth, a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. teens finds that many young people acknowledge the unique challenges – and benefits – of growing up in the digital age.