Current:Home > MyDo you regret that last purchase via social media? You're certainly not alone. -FutureWise Finance
Do you regret that last purchase via social media? You're certainly not alone.
View
Date:2025-04-13 11:31:19
That love-hate relationship with social media extends to purchases, too.
In a new study by Wallethub, nearly 3 in 4 people have made an "unnecessary purchase" via social media. Two out of 3 Americans believe social media is encouraging overspending. And nearly 1 in 5 of those surveyed about their social media purchases categorized them as scams.
"Social media is such a key component to most people's lives nowadays and it's become such a powerhouse as far as online shopping and advertising goes," Cassandra Happe, a Wallethub analyst told USA TODAY.
"We wanted to get a sense of how consumers are handling social media shopping and what their views are as far as whether it's a worthwhile platform to use for shopping and if it's really beneficial as far as how it impacts their finances," she said, in explaining the study.
Here are some other findings from the survey:
◾ 46% of people said social media is a bad influence on their debt.
◾ Social media made 36% of the respondents say it made them feel frustrated about their own finances.
◾ Nearly 2 in 5 Americans are trying to falsely present a good financial image online when that's not real.
◾ 63% of people said they regretted a purchase they've made via social media.
◾ 36% of respondents said they'd spend less if they deleted their social media apps.
The survey did not specifically ask consumers whether they were influenced in their purchases by their friends or posts they've seen from influencers, but Happe said 43% of respondents said they viewed a celebrity recommendation via social media as bad.
Uncomfortable Conversations:What is financial infidelity and how can you come clean?
"People of any age and background are susceptible to getting caught up in social media consumerism, so it’s important to ask yourself whether you really need a given item you see on social media," Happe said in a press release. "Sleeping on a purchase before completing it is a wise move as well.”
Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her on X, Facebook, or Instagram @blinfisher. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here.
veryGood! (435)
Related
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Anderson Cooper hit by debris during CNN's live Hurricane Milton coverage
- Taylor Swift donates $5 million toward hurricane relief efforts
- Who still owns a landline phone? You might be surprised at what the data shows.
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- Reba McEntire's got a friend in Carole King: Duo teamed on 'Happy's Place' theme song
- Lizzo Breaks Down What She Eats in a Day Amid Major Lifestyle Change
- Florida power outage map: 2.2 million in the dark as Milton enters Atlantic
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Knoxville neighborhood urged to evacuate after dynamite found at recycler; foul play not suspected
Ranking
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Who still owns a landline phone? You might be surprised at what the data shows.
- SEC, Big Ten flex muscle but won't say what College Football Playoff format they crave
- Officials work to rescue visitors trapped in a former Colorado gold mine
- Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
- Best-selling author Brendan DuBois indicted on child sex abuse images charges
- Watch dad break down when Airman daughter returns home for his birthday after 3 years
- Relatives of passengers who died in Boeing Max crashes will face off in court with the company
Recommendation
Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
Best-selling author Brendan DuBois indicted on child sex abuse images charges
While Dodgers are secretive for Game 5, Padres just want to 'pop champagne'
Mike Tyson names his price after Jake Paul's $5 million incentive offer
See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
AP Week in Pictures: Global
Trump seizes on one block of a Colorado city to warn of migrant crime threat, even as crime dips
Justin Timberlake Shares Update Days After Suffering Injury and Canceling Show