Australia's social e-commerce market has grown 700% in two years!

According to PayPal 's latest e-commerce index report, Australia's social e-commerce market share has soared in the past two years , with a quarter of people using social media to shop.

The report analyses online shopping trends in Australia , particularly e-commerce trends following the pandemic , which has prompted one in six Australians to start regular online shopping, with nearly a third adding items to their carts and waiting for specials or coupons .

According to the report, social media shopping spending in Australia has increased by 700% compared to 2019. 25% of Australians said they now use social media to shop , and one in seven Australians shop through social media at least once a month.

A quarter ( 25% ) of social commerce shoppers purchase through social channels at least weekly, and over the past two years, social commerce shoppers have spent an average of $106 per month on these channels .

As in other markets, younger consumers are driving this shift, with 42% of Gen Z respondents and 30% of Millennials saying they shop through social media.

These changes are partly driven by the impact of the epidemic . Due to home restrictions, people spend more time on social media and e-commerce platforms , and e-commerce activities have increased overall. In addition , social media platforms in Australia have also developed significantly in the past two years .

Facebook and Instagram launched their "Shop" marketplaces in May last year, allowing retailers to sell products directly to consumers. In November this year , Instagram also introduced a "Shop" tab in its app. In August 2021, TikTok partnered with Shopify to launch product discovery and shopping services, and the e-commerce provider recently integrated with social media startup Linktree.

PayPal’s report also highlights that consumers are increasingly considering the environmental and social impact of their purchases, with nearly half ( 46% ) of the 1,053 consumers surveyed saying they would prefer to buy from responsible brands.

Research shows that more and more people are trying content subscriptions, with about 28% of Australians signing up for subscription content during the pandemic. Among them, pet supplies, health and mindfulness apps , and toilet paper are popular .

Australia

Social e-commerce

epidemic