Online Shopping In 2026 - the best cure for shopping addicts

Over Xmas I learnt my lesson and step 1 in 2026 before hitting the checkout button on any online shop is to check the returns policy. 

With £57 in my basket, I was feeling guilty as I don't need to shop, but the cold spell got me browsing thermals and I succumbed to "bargain" sales. My heaving closet groaned as there are enough clothes to keep me warm this winter. 

Scanning the fine print, I realised I'd have to pay postage for any online returns and stores would only accept exchanges. 

Suddenly I no longer wanted to buy all these items. I narrowed it down to one item I'd be willing to go into a store to click and collect, since I no longer qualified for free delivery. 

I'd invested an hour browsing in this shop, reading reviews, convincing myself yes it was ok to buy one new piece. Why do you think I've walked away and convinced myself I no longer need it? 

It's not my bank balance. Nor is it my overflowing wardrobe. No fancy trick I learnt on social media either. 

Guest checkout. 

That's right. I prefer it, but lo and behold it failed. Initially I overcame the 'you can't guest check out' with an alternative address. Then the email verification didn't come through. Next, the resend email didn't work. It was becoming a hoop jumping workout. Finally I took the universe's signs to simply stop the madness. 

Imagine if it was still free returns. I'd have spent £57 that I didn't need to do. Or if it was free returns instore, I might have ended up buying even more when I inevitably went in - afterall I don't have the perfect body that looks stunning in everything. 

In the UK, we all don't have cars or live close to a shop. The customer experience, technology and returns policies can affect the bottom line of businesses. I expect I'm not the only one that's gone through this. With the cost of living crisis, I'm relieved with this fortunate turn of events, but I think about the economy and  bigger picture. Retailers are missing out on sales. They might be fully costing their products and services, but these are missed opportunities as part of their sales funnel. It's failing. 

Online shopping in 2026 isn't better for retailers but it sure is better for shopping addicts, so my top 3 tips is check the returns policy, use guest checkout and after all the faffing, you may save yourself a whole lot of time and money, because actually do you really need it and why are you shopping? 

Grok, X, AI and How Tough Should We Get?

The furore over Grok, X, AI and sexualised content highlights the urgent need to assess how much power should we allow tech companies to have, and if they can ever be trusted. 

What has become clear is that there was a lack of urgent action to deal with grievous harm, such that governments must ban services and rush legislation to enable action. 

If tech companies can faciliate activities the majority of us consider should be illegal and corporations do not have any kind of social conscious or ability to quickly manage the risk, do we need to fix the system that allows corporate bad behaviour? 

Are we becoming too dependent on technology? With the latest developments on the political struggles in Iran, we've learnt that it loses $1.56 million from its economy every single hour the internet is down. What would be the figures for the UK, US, Europe, China and Russia? We're increasingly faced with the thorny questions we can no longer ignore. 

Our governments can't be forever firefighting when there are so many other issues requiring their attention. It's not efficient, nor in the public interest. 

When corporations do not respect or listen to governments, it sends a message about whether they are willing to adhere to the social contracts and laws we have in place. 

Sexualised content also brings cultural and religious concerns into the mix, and in a global context will impact funding and ultimately profitability for companies. Money talks and that is also when companies listen. 

What has also become clear is the complete failure of tech organisations to ensure they prevent harm, that they aren't creating tools weaponised against us. What else would they be failing to do, and why should they not be accountable? Ultimately they are run by people who we should demand are responsible citizens. The future of tech, AI, X and Grok is at a major historical crisis point. 

You may also be interested in:

• BBC - X to stop Grok AI from undressing images of real people after backlash
• Sky News - Grok Controversy Explainer
• Guardian - The World Less Safe
  
• CNN - Grok blocked by Indonesia, Malaysia over sexualized images in world first
  
• Forbes - Iran Kill Switch