Impact of Social Media on Consumer Spending Habits in Online Shopping: An Empirical Study

This study demonstrates that social media significantly shapes consumer behavior in online
shopping by directly influencing purchase decisions and creating connections between users
and brands. As technology transforms communication and information access, these
platforms play a pivotal role in how consumers decide what to buy. The convenience,
affordability, and innovation fueling online shopping make understanding social media’s
influence essential. Using a descriptive research design with 114 participants and ANOVA,
chi-square, and t-tests, the findings reveal that younger consumers are more active online
shoppers via social media, gender shapes platform preference, and following influencers
increases online engagement. The pronounced effects of age and influencer engagement
emphasize that social media directly drives consumer spending. Still, the use of a small, nonrandom sample limits broader applicability, so interpretations require caution.