As November comes to an end and the holiday season approaches, there is one day many Americans look forward to: Black Friday. The excitement, the chaos, the unbeatable deals—it’s the ultimate shopping spree of the year. However, in recent years, instead of going to the stores, people choose to skip the rush and shop online. While this might be more efficient for some, it defeats the purpose of the traditional Black Friday, and has evolved into something more disconnected.
Black Friday will never be the same again, and that becomes more evident as online shopping increases. With Cyber Monday, most would rather wait until the sales online appear. “As a kid, I would always go shopping with my family and see crimes, like stealing and literal shootings, that would break out over items at the store,” Harianna Fontanillas (’26) explained. “Now I don’t even go to the mall on Black Friday, the holiday is dead, and I just shop online now anyways. Cyber Monday is like the new Black Friday for me.”
In addition to online shopping, the once single “day-of-deals” has now transformed into a week of discounts. This extended period of discounts has become the norm for shoppers, and many of them no longer have the urgency or excitement they once did. The thrill of finding deals on Black Friday has now become so diluted by the constant offers leading up to it. Ultimately, this makes it harder to distinguish the “big day” from the days surrounding it.
On the other hand, some might argue that the tradition is in fact being upgraded. “Since Black Friday sales are extended, it’s so much more easier to shop without having to face all the annoying things that you have to deal with when you go to the mall,” Alexa Voegeli (’27) said “Cyber Monday is just another day to keep the tradition of Black Friday alive; it’s not erasing it whatsoever. Plus, that’s just more shopping.”
Overall, Black Friday, once a day of frenzied in-store shopping, has evolved significantly into a more orderly, online retail experience. While the shift to digital purchases diminished the excitement of crowded stores and doorbuster deals, it has also extended the sales period, making it more convenient and accessible, especially for those who prefer to avoid crowds. Though it may have lost some of its original charm, Black Friday has adapted to meet the demands of modern shoppers, offering a variety of sales that continue to appeal to a broader audience.
