Online Shopping

Why Shoppers Fear AI the Most—and How to Protect Your Privacy A new survey from eMarketer confirms what many in the consumer protection space have suspected: when it comes to AI-powered shopping tools, data privacy is the top worry by a wide margin. While AI promises convenience—personalized recommendations, instant price comparisons, virtual try-ons—shoppers are increasingly hesitant to hand over the personal information these features require. ...

Why Shoppers Worry About AI and Privacy — and What You Can Do About It A survey published by eMarketer this month confirms what many observers have suspected: data privacy is far and away the top concern consumers have about using AI shopping tools. Nearly half of respondents said they worry about how their personal information is collected and used when they interact with an AI assistant for shopping. This finding is not surprising, but it is a useful signal for anyone who uses — or is thinking about using — these tools. ...

Shoppers’ Biggest AI Shopping Fear? Data Privacy—Here’s How to Protect Yourself Shopping with AI assistants—chatbots that recommend products, compare prices, or even complete purchases—has become more common in the past year. But a recent survey from eMarketer confirms what many privacy advocates have suspected: data privacy is shoppers’ top concern when using these tools, and by a wide margin. ...

How to Protect Your Privacy When Using AI Shopping Tools If you’ve ever asked an AI chatbot for product recommendations or let a virtual assistant scan your inbox for order tracking, you’ve joined a rapidly growing group of shoppers. But that convenience comes with a catch. According to a recent eMarketer survey, data privacy is now the top fear among shoppers who use AI tools—outweighing concerns about accuracy, cost, or customer service. ...

Shoppers’ #1 AI Fear? Data Privacy—Here’s How to Protect Yourself Online shopping tools powered by artificial intelligence are no longer a novelty. From chatbots that answer product questions to recommendation engines that suggest what to buy next, these features are now built into most major retailers’ websites and apps. But as their use has grown, so has a specific worry among shoppers: what happens to all the personal data these tools collect? ...

Your Biggest Fear About AI Shopping? Data Privacy – Here’s How to Protect Yourself If you’ve hesitated to use an AI shopping assistant because you weren’t sure how much of your personal data it would collect, you’re not alone. According to an eMarketer survey, data privacy is now shoppers’ biggest fear when it comes to AI-powered shopping tools. The finding underscores a growing tension between the convenience of personalized recommendations and the unease about how much information is being gathered behind the scenes. ...

Shop smarter, not creepier: How to use AI shopping tools without sacrificing your privacy If you’ve used a chatbot to compare prices, asked a virtual assistant for product recommendations, or let an AI curate your search results, you’re far from alone. AI shopping tools are spreading fast, promising faster decisions and better deals. But a new survey from eMarketer confirms what many shoppers already suspect: the convenience comes at a cost to privacy. In fact, data privacy is shoppers’ number one fear about using AI in shopping—well ahead of concerns about accuracy, cost, or the quality of recommendations. ...

Social media scams are booming: How to spot them before you lose money If you’ve ever scrolled past a too-good-to-be-true deal on Facebook Marketplace, clicked a link in an Instagram DM promising a free gift card, or been tempted by a TikTok ad for a viral product at a steep discount, you’re not alone. Scammers have moved aggressively onto social media, and the losses are staggering. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams — Practical Tips to Keep Your Money Safe Online shopping is fast and convenient, but it also attracts scammers looking to steal your payment details, personal information, or even your identity. Reports from VA News (.gov) repeatedly warn consumers about schemes targeting everyone, especially veterans and older adults. Knowing the common tactics and taking a few simple precautions can make a real difference. ...

Don’t Get Tricked: How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before You Pay Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers looking to steal your money or personal information. According to recent alerts from VA News (.gov), fraudulent websites, phishing emails, and fake social media ads remain persistent threats. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that online shopping scams consistently rank among the top consumer complaints, with losses reaching hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The good news is that most scams share common warning signs. Learning to spot them can keep your purchases safe. ...