In Medan, influencers, fear of missing out and financial knowledge link to Gen Z IPO interest

A survey of 100 young people found that social media influence, fear of missing out and financial literacy were each positively associated with interest in buying shares during initial public offerings through Indonesia’s e-IPO system.

Abstract editorial illustration accompanying the article: In Medan, influencers, fear of missing out and financial knowledge link to Gen Z IPO interest

Editorial illustration — not from the study.

Researchers surveyed 100 people aged 17 to 28 living in Medan who were familiar with IPO stock investing through e-IPO, an electronic system for participating in initial public offerings. The study examined whether social media influencers, fear of missing out and financial literacy were related to their interest in IPO investing.

Each factor had a positive and statistically significant partial association with investment interest. Taken together, the three factors also had a significant association with interest in IPO stock investment.

What shaped IPO interest

Social media influencers, fear of missing out and financial literacy each had a positive and statistically significant partial effect on respondents’ interest in IPO stock investment through e-IPO. When considered together, the three variables also had a significant effect. The abstract does not report effect sizes or identify which factor had the strongest association.

Why these links matter

The findings suggest that Generation Z’s interest in IPO investing may be shaped by a combination of social influence, psychological pressure to keep up with others and the ability to understand financial information. This points to the importance of considering both online investment content and financial understanding when examining how young people approach IPO opportunities.

Evidence and caveats

The study used a quantitative, associative design and questionnaires completed online and offline by 100 respondents aged 17 to 28 in Medan. Because the study examined relationships between reported factors and investment interest, it does not establish that influencers, fear of missing out or financial literacy caused the interest. The sample was limited to one city and to respondents familiar with IPO investing through e-IPO, so the findings may not apply to all Indonesian young people. The abstract provides no effect sizes or details about how the respondents were selected.

AI writing detectors can wrongly flag student work, a review finds

A systematic review finds that AI-writing detectors can falsely classify human-written student work as AI-generated. The review identifies language and algorithmic bias, limited contextual understanding and insufficiently diverse training data as major contributors.

46 minutes ago·1 views

Society & Economics

Tuna and billfish fishing moved offshore mainly in the past 200 years

People have fished for tuna for about 44,000 years and billfish for about 10,000 years, according to a global review of archaeological evidence. But sustained, intensive fishing in offshore and oceanic waters appears to have developed mainly during the past 200 years.

1 day ago·7 views

Abstract editorial illustration accompanying the article: Coastal residents weigh flood damage, costs and family ties when considering a move

Society & Economics

Coastal residents weigh flood damage, costs and family ties when considering a move

People considering whether to leave flood-prone coastal communities weigh disastrous flooding and rising costs alongside crime, healthcare and proximity to family and friends. In a survey of 182 respondents, most said they would not relocate, while others said they would move immediately or in the future.

1 day ago·10 views