In an age of increasing levels of loneliness, it is becoming more apparent that the solution to social isolation is not another app or online chatbot. Instead, what if it were a third-space activity away from the glow of an iPhone screen, like a trip to your local mall’s food court? Ever since the forced closure of public places due to the COVID-19 pandemic, malls have experienced a significant decline in popularity. But is this shift truly in our best interest as a society?
The U.S. is home to an estimated 1.2 thousand traditional malls. Projections indicate that by 2028, there may be as few as 900 malls still in operation. A large part of this decline is caused by businesses lacking the incentive and adequate income to maintain their large buildings. After inevitably needing to shift to online shopping during the pandemic, with 90 percent of people shopping online in 2020 in North America, many people have made it a continued habit. Even six years after the COVID-19 pandemic, people add to their carts through a passive mouse click instead of experiencing the thrill of piling hangers of clothing onto their arms. Eileen Carlson O’Fallon (IV) explains, “Once you find an easier solution out of necessity, it becomes your go-to.” As public institutions gain popularity, we should too recognize the revival of malls and in-person shopping.
After the pandemic forced many to switch to a life online, there has been a loneliness epidemic. With the advancement of technology and presence of the internet in almost every aspect of people’s daily lives, a larger proportion of people now prefer to connect online rather than in person. High dependence on the digital world, contrarily, leads to feelings of low connection in the real world.
The decline of physical spaces like malls creates fewer opportunities to have these in-person interactions. In the early 2000s, malls were very popular in mainstream culture. They were places for teenagers to hang out after school and families to congregate. They were often even major settings or parts of storylines in movies. Today, the nostalgia of the bustling social hub is rapidly diminishing.
The revitalization of malls would prevent people from staring at screens and instead encourage more physical activity and becoming more engaged with reality. Since malls are large spaces with a controlled climate, they are perfect for an easygoing exercise, which is particularly beneficial for older individuals.
In malls, stores and brands can advertise through genuine appeal rather than through clickbait ads that are pushed forward based on a curated algorithm. When shopping online, a product may seem desirable, but upon arrival, appears wildly different from what was shown digitally. Thirty percent of products bought online are returned, three times higher than the return rate for physical stores. Annie Xu (IV) explains that malls are “more convenient because I’m able to try on clothes that I want to buy and pick the perfect size.”
Not only does this abundance of automation dehumanize business interactions, it also decreases job openings in malls, particularly impacting youth seeking entry-level professional experience. These jobs build crucial life skills, and by turning to online shopping, we effectively broaden the social gaps in our society. As Aliana Kowalczyk (I) puts it, “Malls can be a healthy way to restore the face-to-face interpersonal social fabric that’s been eroded since COVID-19 and further degraded by social media.”
Some argue that a revitalization of malls would lead to detrimental habits in youth, like a tendency to overconsume or spend money. It is true that younger individuals, who are forming their financial habits, should not be excessively exposed to influencer culture and fast fashion, but this also exists online. They can be taught, however, to be intentional with their spending, distinguish appropriate purchases from overly unnecessary ones and develop healthy habits with their finances.
One counterargument is that the benefits of online shopping exceed those of malls. After all, trips to the mall can be a large time commitment, as many people have busy schedules and limited time to devote their days to a separate trip to a physical store. This shortcut, however, should not become an instinct. After all, “three billion trees are pulped yearly to produce 241 million tons of shipping cartons,” according to Earth.Org. Although convenient, shopping online may produce even more waste and detrimental effects for the environment. Take the time to really evaluate if you really need to order online. And if you don’t? Add “mall trip” to your calendar.
As a society, it is important to prioritize communication and connectedness. This goal requires at least a certain degree of separation from the digital realm and reintegration into the real world. Bringing back malls will be a great benefit to our environment and aid in combating social loneliness. In today’s age of doomscrolling and rash online purchases, it is imperative to both our mind and wallet that we bring back the more socially beneficial form of shopping: the mall.
