Quick commerce addiction

CURRENT POSITION

I’m pro–quick commerce and amazed by its convenience, but I’m worried it’s creating addictive consumption habits. I believe early financial education—starting as early as Class 3—is critical to help the next generation develop spending discipline and resist impulse-driven overconsumption.

KEY ASSUMPTIONS

• Extreme convenience reduces friction and turns purchasing from a conscious decision into a reflex
• Dopamine-driven feedback loops (instant delivery, app sounds, ease of payment) can lead to addictive behavior
• Younger consumers who never experienced pre–q-commerce shopping will struggle more with self-control

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

• Instamart consumption report showing massive order volumes (milk per second, Red Bull per minute, condoms per order ratio)
• Anecdotes of users spending ₹4.3 lakh–₹22 lakh on Instamart, including buying iPhones
• Personal observation that almost everyone now uses quick commerce multiple times a week

OPEN QUESTIONS

• Will this level of convenience actually lead to long-term overconsumption or will users self-regulate over time?
• Are younger consumers uniquely vulnerable, or will norms and education adapt?
• Can quick commerce platforms design responsibly without killing growth?

WANT TO EXPLORE DEEPER?

by parag