Social media’s shopping perils

Social media is turning people into shopping addicts, said Emily Glaser in Vox.com. Already filled with consumer temptations, “integration of direct shopping capabilities into apps” has made Instagram and Facebook into minefields, especially for people already in debt. Studies now indicate “a direct correlation between social media use, credit card debt, and low credit scores.” The worries about debt and consumerism are felt even by influencers who have made a living promoting products. Lifestyle blog author Jess Ann Kirby, with 138,000 Instagram followers, went through a “Marie Kondo–style reckoning” and now writes about how to cut your environmental impact. Nika Booth, who used to “swipe her credit card for impromptu trips to Miami with friends” now lets her 33,000 followers track her journey toward paying off her debt.