Definitely true; I rarely go to malls anymore (less than once a year), and the last couple of times I was surprised 1) at how many foreigners were there, almost as though they were visiting a museum (no bags of purchases, just window-shopping), and 2) how many areas formerly housing retail space were geared towards food/snacks or something else (in one case, a tattoo parlor).
I live about 20 minutes from both the mall in Elizabeth NJ that was just in the news, as well as the one in Jersey City that was in the news last week, and I’ve been to each one exactly once in my life (many years ago). Americans in my area that want to go to a mall always head west; they are safer, cleaner places less accessible to ghetto clientele.
Online shopping IS picking up as anticipated, and just the exposure to these creatures tearing these places up is sufficient deterrent.
They are window shopping, many of them. Many try stuff on and then order it online at a lower price. While I like being thrifty, I don't go that far - if a real store matters to me, then I'll buy from them, just not in a mall at Christmas, after dark, or when it's busy.