The Evolution of E-Commerce

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In the late 90s when Amazon was founded, it was met by a population that was largely pretty skeptical of having to buy something on the internet. It seems like buying something online was probably a great way to get your credit card stolen. People didn't want to buy shoes on the internet; people did not want to buy jeans on the internet inherently. So they had to be sold. And one way that is very effective at getting people to take the leap and buy something is to do everything you can to remove what is often called like any kind of friction from that buying process.

Paris Marx is joined by Amanda Mull to discuss the history of consumerism and where ecommerce goes in the next few years as interest rates rise and its market share stalls.

Amanda Mull is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where she writes the Material World column. She’s also a shop steward at The Atlantic Union. Follow Amanda on Twitter at @amandamull.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham and part of the Harbinger Media Network.

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