Filling a Void

There is no national education requirement for financial literacy in the US, leaving many Americans under-informed on topics such as saving, budgeting, and smart spending.

Americans looking to fill this void are turning to the internet to source financial info, but obviously some sources are better than others. In particular, TikTok has become a go-to source for personal finance tips.

Textbook TikTok

A staggering 80% of Americans aged 18 to 41 reported sourcing financial advice from social media. Meanwhile, many financial education content creators on TokTok have racked up millions of views on their videos. These videos can cover anything from finding a beginner credit card to diffusing money-related conflicts.

TikTok may be a popular source for digestible financial information currently, but it’s by no means the first. “Relatable” financial content also gained steam on blogs back in the early 2010s.

Americans tend to turn to each other in search of information. When it comes to personal finance, that’s a great place to start — but it shouldn’t be the end.

One App Doesn’t Fit All

TikTok is a great way to introduce consumers to financial topics they might not have known of. However, many such topics are far too complicated to be explained in a single 60-second video.

And as Abraham Lincoln once said, don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Social media platforms incentivize engaging content (i.e content that receives more comments and shares) over rigorous and accurate reporting, so some information on TikTok may be misleading or outright wrong.

Not all TikTokers are trying to mislead you — but they will have a completely different set of circumstances than you do. What’s best for you probably won’t be the same thing that’s best for strangers with different financial goals, risk tolerances, and lifestyles.

So, while TikTok can be a useful source of financial information, be sure to conduct your own research or even contact a professional before making any major decisions in regards to your finances.

Learn More:

• Personal loan calculator
• The pros and cons of personal loans

This article originally appeared on Sofi.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

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Communication of SoFi Wealth LLC an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Liz Young is a Registered Representative of SoFi Securities and Investment Advisor Representative of SoFi Wealth. Her ADV 2B is available at www.sofi.com/legal/adv.

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