Social media is fueling a costly habit: financial flexing. A new Credit One Bank study found that more than half of Gen Z admits to lying or exaggerating about their financial success online. Some are even going into debt to keep up appearances, as 38% say they’ve damaged their credit score to impress someone, and 46% of Gen Z men specifically admit they’d overdraft their accounts for a date. Many suggest that a constant stream of luxury lifestyle content—from influencers and peers—has made money part of everyday aesthetics. Financial therapists say it often starts with small, incremental splurges (daily coffees, spontaneous shopping) that quietly add up. It’s a tension worth watching as this generation is simultaneously the most financially anxious and the most pressured to perform wealth online. (USA Today)
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