Author(s)
Ms. Sobitha R, Dr. Hepzibah Gnana Sinthiya R
- ISSN (P): 3139-8464
- Manuscript ID: 141254
- Volume: 2
- Issue: 11
- Pages: 15–30
Subject Area: Social Science All
Abstract
social media has become one of the places where young adults encounter investment ideas, market commentary and stories about other people’s financial gains. This access can make financial information easier to find, but it can also create pressure to act quickly, particularly when posts suggest that an opportunity may disappear or that others are already profiting. This paper examines a proposed relationship between investment-related social-media exposure, fear of missing out (FOMO), and impulsive investment decisions among Generation Z. Drawing on Social Comparison Theory, the stimulus-organism-response framework and behavioral finance, the paper positions FOMO as a possible link between exposure to investment content and decisions made with limited deliberation. Digital financial literacy is considered as a potential protective factor. To demonstrate the analysis procedure, a dataset of 50 observations was collected and analyzed using ordinary least squares regression and a bootstrap estimate of the indirect association. From this study, the exposure was positively associated with FOMO, FOMO was positively associated with impulsive investment decisions, and the interaction between FOMO and digital financial literacy was negative. The findings also underline the importance of strengthening digital financial literacy among young investors, particularly in relation to evaluating online investment information, identifying misleading claims, assessing financial risks, and avoiding decisions driven by urgency or social comparison.