Gone are the days when shopping malls were purely for shopping activities. However, with the emergence of modern shopping centres, the trend has shifted, and many people like to spend their free time and socialise in shopping malls. This has both advantages and disadvantages that this essay will deal with.
To begin with the negative aspects of spending leisure time in a shopping complex – it makes people lethargic and forces them to avoid outdoor activities. For instance, people who meet others in a park, swimming pool or playground get involved in group activities which is a good way of doing different physical exercises. But, when people meet friends in a shopping mall, they either eat fast food or watch a movie – both of which lack physical movements. On top of that, those people usually avoid outdoor activities as they prefer air-conditioned indoors more.
Among the advantages, most modern cities, especially those in populous countries, hardly have parks, swimming complexes, or playgrounds. This is why people can meet others at a shopping complex, and it helps them remain social rather than spending too much time online. For instance, whenever a few of my friends from university plan for a get-together, a nice shopping complex in our city comes to our mind because it makes the gathering and experience enjoyable.
To conclude, the old notion of a shopping centre – just for buying and selling products – is no longer applicable in modern days since our expectations, lifestyles, and the availability of outdoor amenities have changed a great deal. And this trend has both merits and demertis.