Impact of Instagram on Financial Self-Perception: A Study of Pakistani Adolescents

Abstract

This study investigates the connection between Instagram use and feelings of financial inadequacy among Pakistani adolescents. As digital mediaplatforms progressively permeate daily life, their effect on users' self-perception and financial outlook has turned into a critical area of exploration. Thispaper focuses on Instagram, a platform known for its visual-driven content that frequently exhibits material riches and lavish ways of life.Using a quantitative approach, a survey was conducted and distributed among 50 adolescents from ages 15-19 from different socio-economicbackgrounds living in Lahore, Pakistan. The findings uncover a strong correlation between Instagram use and feeling of financial inadequacy.Adolescents who had lower family income were more likely to feel financially inadequate. Data also showed that adolescents also use Instagram toavoid personal problems and it further explained how content depicting wealth and peer comparison on Instagram worsen these sentiments of financial inadequacy. The research highlights the requirement for mindfulness and potential interventions to moderate the unfavorable mental effects of socialmedia on young users in developing countries.