Are Online Knowledge Sources Helping Gen Z Crack The Investing Code?

YouTube tutorials, Instagram infographics, and influencer reels and posts are slipping into the social media feeds of Gen Z regularly. But are they enough to impart the knowledge they need for investing in real life?

- Priyanka Debnath

Do you remember who your parents took financial advice from? In most cases, the answer would be the neighbourhood insurance agent, friends or family, or trial and error.

But Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) are now rewriting the rules with advice and knowledge from various social media platforms.

The oldest among Gen Z were in their early 20s when Covid hit in 2020, and with lives moving digital, that is the medium they are most comfortable with even in matters of investing and financial advice.

Ankur Warikoo, author, entrepreneur and a content creator, says: “When it comes to platforms, YouTube is the most effective, followed by Instagram. Notably, they are more comfortable trusting finfluencers rather than established financial brands.”

Hrutik Tidke, a 22-year-old video producer from Majalgaon, Maharashtra, trusts sources on the Internet whenever he needs to take a financial decision. “I learn about personal finance mostly from YouTube. I also read finance-related articles, but only online—it’s easier and always within reach,” he says. At present, he invests 25 per cent of his salary in equity and bank deposits.

Many Gen Zs we spoke to said that financial education in schools was either minimal or nonexistent, forcing them to turn to digital sources for guidance. Social media, online courses, and fintech platforms now serve as the primary sources of financial learning.

Let's explore how deep is the digital impact on Gen Zs' investing and how feasible these sources of information and advice are.

Bite-Sized And Simple

For most Gen Zs, social media is the easiest way to learn about investing—it’s quick, easy to understand, and always within reach. Since they are always on their phones, short videos and posts fit into their daily routine.