Nearly two thirds of young people follow online ‘finfluencers’ for financial advice
Millions of young people in the UK are taking advice from financial influencers – so-called ‘finfluencers’ – via social media on how to manage their money.
New research[1] from financial services communications consultancy MRM in partnership with Mouthy Money reveals that more than six in 10 (62%) 18-29-year-olds follow finfluencers, with almost three quarters (74%) trusting the advice they provide.
As a result, as many as nine in 10 (90%) of those young followers have been encouraged to change their financial behaviour.
For example, 40% have subsequently reduced their spending, 38% have invested in a variety of assets, 32% have used ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes, 29% have started budgeting, and 25% have paid off debts.
The rise of the online finfluencers has coincided with young people’s growing interest in financial markets during the pandemic.
Nearly three in five (57%) 18-29-year-olds currently invest and more than half of those (59%) started after March 2020 when lockdown restrictions began.
A relatively small proportion (11%) invest in cryptoassets compared with shares (24%) or funds (24%). But the majority (52%) feel positively about crypto, considering it a good investment opportunity, a strong long-term store of value, or a positive force in the democratisation of finance.
Most respondents first learnt about crypto via friends or family (33%), through social media or an online influencer (30%), or in the personal finance media (22%).
However, putting money into bitcoin, ether and other cryptoassets is less of a priority for young people than investing ethically.
When asked whether they would be more likely to invest in a cryptoasset or an ESG fund, nearly two-thirds (63%) chose the latter over the former (37%).
Cem Balci, Consultant at MRM, commented: “It is excellent to see so many young people engaging with their finances and taking positive, proactive steps to secure their financial future.
“The past two years have fuelled unprecedented interest in financial markets from a new breed of investors and have potentially revolutionised an entire generation’s relationship with money. Where once there was apathy, there is now intense and increasing engagement.
“The pressure on incomes and the rising cost of living also mean that younger generations are looking for fast, accessible and digestible guidance on how to most effectively manage their money.
“Certainly, there is still a place for trusted experts and traditional financial advisers, but it is also clear that viral media may now be the best way of reaching and interacting with younger adults.
“When it comes to investing, young people are of course focused on what will generate the best returns, but there are also signs of an ethical, social and environmental consciousness entering their financial considerations. How to engage that consciousness early on and help to turn ethics into real financial actions is a question that the industry will want to answer sooner rather than later.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Edmund Greaves
Co-editor
Mouthy Money
edmund.greaves@mouthymoney.co.uk
020 3326 9900
078 2481 4326
Cem Balci
Consultant
MRM
cem.balci@mrm-london.com
020 3871 1702
074 3612 6455
NOTES TO EDITORS
MRM is an integrated communications and reputation management consultancy specialising in the financial services and professional services sectors. Combining expertise from across the core disciplines of Corporate & Consumer PR, Social & Digital Media, News & Content and Public & Regulatory Affairs, the team specialises in helping clients tell their stories more effectively to more of the people that matter. MRM is part of MRM Group, an independently owned media services business, which also includes Capital City Media, a full-service media planning and buying agency with sector leading expertise and insight into UK, European and worldwide B2C and B2B paid media, and content consultancy Mouthy Media and its finance blogzine Mouthy Money.
Mouthy Money is a money blog with a beating heart and a big mouth. It is built on real people talking simultaneously about real dreams, successes and failures through the lens of personal finance. Mouthy Money takes a range of contributions from around the UK money blogosphere and is led by experienced personal finance journalists and co-editors Edmund Greaves and Paul Thomas. Mouthy Money seeks to tell money stories in a way that breaks the mould of traditional personal finance, while also providing essential information to help readers with their personal finances.
[1] Survey of 250 18-29-year-olds living in the UK conducted between 11th-15th Feb 2022 by 3Gem Research & Insights