We were curious as to why e-commerce has become such a big hit in this day and age. According to marketing psychology expert Johnson, this is due to the fact that it is incredibly efficient. E-commerce "thrives on platforms like Facebook Marketplace because it seamlessly integrates shopping with the social and digital habits we already have. Most notably, I see this as the convergence of convenience, trust, and the power of social influence," he told Bored Panda.

According to Johnson, Facebook Marketplace capitalizes on contextual commerce, which is the idea that "buying opportunities are most effective when they fit naturally into our existing behaviors." He explained that people already spend hours on Facebook connecting with their friends and browsing content. Adding shopping into that 'ecosystem' feels effortless. There's also the factor of trust to consider.

"Social media inherently fosters trust. Items on Marketplace often come from local sellers, and features like mutual friend connections or reviews enhance a sense of security. Lastly, platforms like Facebook are inherently social. Seeing what friends buy, sell, or recommend adds a layer of social proof, a powerful psychological driver of purchasing behavior. This mix of convenience, trust, and influence has made e-commerce on social platforms a natural evolution of shopping behavior."

Bored Panda was also interested in how trust is built on e-commerce platforms. After all, reputation counts for a lot. "Building trust in e-commerce requires transparency, consistency, and a human-centered approach. Transparency is key—clearly communicate policies on returns, shipping, and privacy while providing detailed product descriptions, high-quality images, and reviews to eliminate ambiguity, which often triggers distrust," Johnson explained.

"Social proof, such as customer reviews, testimonials, and user-generated content, plays a powerful role by activating the brain’s trust networks, making the brand feel safer and more reliable. Consistency across your website, app, and social media reinforces credibility, as cognitive dissonance caused by mixed messaging can undermine trust," he said.

It's also important to focus on "humanizing the shopping experience." This can be done through "responsive customer service or chatbots can simulate the personal interactions that consumers associate with trustworthiness."

"Neuroscience research shows that even small perceived human touches foster a sense of reliability. Ultimately, trust is built through repeated moments of reliability—consistently delivering what you promise and creating an environment where customers feel confident in their decisions."

Facebook Marketplace is huge—that’s no surprise because Meta, Facebook's parent company, is sprawling. The exact numbers vary a bit from researcher to researcher.

As per BusinessDasher, Marketplace has around 1.1 billion users worldwide, with 474 million active users. Roughly 16% of all people who log in to Facebook do so solely to shop on Marketplace.

7% of all Facebook users in the United States have bought something on Marketplace, compared to 14% of all users from 70 countries. Back in 2021, Marketplace boasted revenue of $26 billion. Unfortunately, 17% of users are said to have been scammed on Marketplace.

According to BusinessDasher, men aged 25 to 34 years old are the largest group of Facebook Marketplace users, clocking in at 17.9% of all users. Women in the same age range make up 13.8% of all users.

On the flip side, the least active users are the youngest and oldest ones: teenagers and folks over the age of 65.

Meanwhile, CapitalOne Shopping states that, on average, up to 1.228 billion online shoppers buy something on Facebook Marketplace. According to their research, up to 40% of Facebook’s users shop on Marketplace. Currently, there are 3.07 billion active monthly users and 2.11 billion daily active users on the social network, as per DemandSage.

CapitalOne Shopping states that around 491 million active users log in to Facebook just to shop on Marketplace. Furthermore, there are 250 million Marketplace sellers worldwide.

Knowing how (not) to communicate isn’t a skill that most of us are born with. Sure, some folks might pick up social cues more easily and have sharper instincts when it comes to faux pas and taboos.

However, a high level of self-awareness is often developed slowly, over time, through countless interactions.

Or, to put it bluntly, when you have a string of incredibly awkward and cringy conversations with people, you start to wonder whether you’re the problem. You then learn not to repeat the same mistakes to avoid feeling embarrassed.

The key thing here is to shift your perspective so you don’t end up losing what’s left of your courage. Accept the mistakes you’ve made in the past, see them as opportunities for growth, learn from them, adapt your approach, and move on.

If you don’t embrace the mistakes you’ve made—no matter how socially awkward—you risk making that embarrassment fester into shame. And that’s not good for anybody. Somewhat paradoxically, when you don’t try to hide your embarrassment and own up to having made a blunder, you seem more human and approachable. In other words, people tend to like you more because they see you as humble and relatable.

Rejection isn’t a great feeling even on the best of days. It’s an unavoidable part of life, however. Furthermore, if you’re selling something and your ability to pay rent and put food on the table depends on how you interact with others, well then, you’d better learn to handle rejection fast… or consider a different career path or side hustle. Being a salesperson can be a tough job, and there’s no shame in admitting that this sort of stress isn’t for you.

What’s your experience been like with Facebook Marketplace? Have you ever bought or sold anything there or on other e-commerce sites? What are the weirdest interactions you’ve had with either buyers or sellers online?

For you personally, what are some red and green flags that you can(not) trust somebody? Let us know what you think in the comments.