According to an article from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “79% of consumers worldwide are using some form of contactless payment in light of the pandemic. Contactless transactions rose 40% in the first quarter around the globe.”
This is not really a shock to me. The aforementioned goal of keeping one another–or perhaps even just oneself–healthy was top priority with a global pandemic still hanging over our heads. So why is it that in 2026, we’re still using it so consistently? Part of it comes down to convenience, as most would rather tap their card and move on with their day rather than take the extra 10 seconds to insert or swipe it and put in their PIN. Another aspect would be cybersafety, given that this form of transaction is end-to-end encrypted. This means that your card information is unable to be read for any longer than the split second it takes for it to be registered by the system, whereas inserting or swiping your card runs the risk of it getting tapped if there is a skimmer attached to the machine.
While these risks must be accounted for, there is still another big problem at play: Spending addiction.
According to AddictionHelp.com, “A survey conducted at several American universities found that up to 12% of college students may have shopping addiction symptoms,” and an article from NHPR states, “The main reason underlying the increase in usage [of tap to pay] is convenience.”
To most, a shopping addiction may not seem like one that needs to be taken as seriously as others, but when you host a party and your guests can’t get around your piles of various new and useless purchases from your “retail therapy,” it starts to seem a lot more real. Overconsumption and consumerism contribute to overspending so much that they have become interlinked. We live in a world where the “just one more treat” mentality is very popularized, and with prices still higher than they should be, it becomes a very treacherous line to walk. The ease of using your phone to pay for a 47th pair of sneakers just because they are eggshell white instead of seashell white is far too tempting for most.
Something else to consider is the sounds and visuals paired with tapping your card or phone, and the best example to get your mind on track is casinos. Casinos have one goal in mind, and it is to take your money and still get you to leave with a smile.
An article from the University of British Columbia (UBC) stated that most people in their study were paying less attention to the information on game-winning odds on the screen if the wins were paired with “money imagery and casino jingles.” This is all by design, and when you take a second to notice that most contactless payments you are confronted with chirp and light up, things begin to add up a little more.
Everything is created with purpose, whether it seems so or not. The effect of sounds and visuals is amplified by the fact that cards and phones are customizable; my own card is customized, and I won’t act like seeing the design when I use it doesn’t make me smile inwardly. Spending money is a psychological game set up by industries, and it is a shame that even the way our transactions are processed is carefully calculated by each company. In the end, it is your decision to pay how you please, but oftentimes the long-term consequences will sneak up on you before you even have a chance to start running.
Nicholas Ackley can be contacted at
nackley@kscequinox.com
