You’ve got a big, expensive purchase to make. Maybe you’re buying airline tickets, furniture or a car. It is safer and smarter to do so on your cellphone, or instead on your desktop or laptop? Does it matter?
Recently, a viral social media post by Jessie Frazelle, the CEO of software company Zoo, started a conversation about how different generations handle sizable purchases. Frazelle, a millennial, wrote: “Apparently, Gen Z is making fun of older generations for never buying big ticket purchases on their phone and always using a desktop. I’ve never felt more attacked in my life by something I didn’t realize I was subconsciously doing.”
So does it matter? Are millennials, Generation Xers and their parents a bunch of old fogies because they are using desktops and laptops to make important purchases? Or, in this case, should members of Generation Z pay more attention to their elders and put the phone down?
We consulted some experts to come up with a (very unscientific) look at which option is better when making a big purchase.
Overall, everyone is right and it really doesn’t matter.
To cut to the chase, experts say that you should use whatever you prefer.
“The short answer is that, no, it essentially does not matter,” said Marc Frankel, the CEO and co-founder of Manifest, a cybersecurity startup headquartered in Connecticut.
“There are inherent security features and inherent security risks both ways, and it’s a little like the ‘is a hot dog a sandwich?’ debate, in that you can make an argument either way.”
Chris Hauk, a spokesperson for Pixel Privacy, a consumer privacy and security website, said that a shopper can use whatever “the user feels more comfortable with, which is why the younger set ― who all grew up with mobile devices ― are more comfortable than older users in using a mobile device.”
“Older users like myself, who have been using computers since the ’80s, will naturally feel more comfortable with using a laptop or desktop computer,” he added.
Whether on a phone or desktop, “if a user sticks to making purchases through a merchant’s official and secured app, there is little danger to being scammed,” Hauk said.
So that’s 1 point each for the desktop and phone.
The score so far — desktop: 1; phone: 1.
Desktops and laptops have a big advantage: The screen.
Hauk said a potential problem with making a large purchase on a phone is that it may be easier to fall for a fake website. Since the screen is smaller, the “fake URL” my go unnoticed.
And some shoppers, no matter their age, might find it easier to make important purchases on a larger screen.
“One thing I like about using a desktop browser is that it helps you avoid drip pricing on things like airline tickets, as you can see more information at once, including the fees, add-ons and taxes that can make an item’s final purchase price much higher than advertised,” Hauk said. “If you’re using a mobile device, there is less screen real estate, making it easier to miss everything that can lead to drip-pricing surprises.”
So that’s 1 point for the desktop and none for the phone.
The score so far — desktop: 2; phone: 1.
Phones have a different advantage: Convenience.
“There’s definitely a generational difference in how people shop online. Gen Z is all about convenience, so they’re more likely to make big purchases on their phones,” said Vlad Cristescu, the head of cybersecurity at ZeroBounce, an email validation company based in Santa Barbara, California.
“It makes sense. They’ve grown up with smartphones, and using apps and digital wallets like Apple Pay feels second nature to them,” Cristescu said.
He noted that Gen Z is right to feel comfortable with phone purchases, which, he said, “are actually quite secure because of the encryption and added features like biometric authentication.” This is when your phone identifies you by your fingerprint or face.
“Mobile phones, especially the latest ones, are designed with strong security features,” Cristescu said. “For example, iPhones and Android phones isolate apps, so they can’t access data they shouldn’t. Browsers on phones also tend to be stricter, which means you’re less likely to run into dangerous extensions or accidental downloads.”
Still, you could argue that phones may be too convenient. If you’re prone to impulse buys, you could whip out your phone and make a significant purchase without really thinking it through. If you’re not near your laptop or desktop, maybe you’ll rethink a big buy in the time it takes to get over to the screen.
On the other hand, if you really need to make a costly purchase now and you’ve got your phone on you, it’s far more convenient to use the device in your hand or pocket. If it’s somehow a life-and-death purchase — maybe you’re in the apocalypse, and Amazon still delivers — well, the smartphone totally crushes the utility of a desktop.
The score so far — desktop: 2; phone: 2.
Delmaine Donson via Getty Images
Talking to customer service may be easier with a desktop.
Frankel noted that shopping on a desktop “keeps the phone free to make phone calls, particularly for those who aren’t proficient in calling and browsing simultaneously.” This could be helpful for people who want to call a customer service representative, for example.
Of course, that’s where a Gen Z shopper might say, “Well, I am proficient, and I’ll just turn on the speakerphone and look at my phone screen while talking to the customer service rep, so what’s your point?”
For the customer service factor, we can call this another draw.
The score so far — desktop: 3; phone: 3.
Whatever you use, security is paramount.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, everyone knows this, but people use their phones, laptops and desktops so much that it’s easy to forget that you need to stay alert when shopping online.
Cristescu said that mobile devices, as safe as they are, can be targeted by text messages from hackers and con artists. It’s also important to not ignore those reminders about software updates, which are designed to keep the bad guys out of your phone, he added.
But Cristescu said he likes that “many apps offer secure ways to pay, like Apple Pay and Google Pay, which don’t share your actual card info with the store.” That said, “desktops also offer some strong protections, especially if you keep your system updated and use security software,” he noted. “With the right antivirus, firewall and a secure browser, you’ve got a solid defense.”
However, Cristescu said, you still need to be careful about the software you download and the links you click. He said desktops and mobile devices are “only as secure as you make them.”
But let’s cut the older generations a break and give the desktop additional credit for one big advantage over phones: Criminals are less likely to steal a desktop. You probably won’t have someone sneak into your house, unplug your desktop, carry it away and then use it to buy expensive stuff. But you could accidentally leave your phone on a park bench or in a public restroom for someone to find and steal.
Rod Tosten, the vice president of information technology at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, noted that anyone who gets ahold of your phone may essentially have your wallet, especially if you don’t have multifactor authentication set up.
“Once a bad actor has access to a phone or phone account, they can use it to hop to other user accounts,” Tosten said.
And a criminal can potentially make a lot of big purchases for themselves on your phone. Yikes.
The final (completely unscientific) score — desktop: 4; phone: 3.
