A influência das mídias sociais nas decisões financeiras dos estudantes de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas da UFJF-GV

Abstract

This study aims to understand the ways in which social networking services influence the financial decisions of students at the Institute of Applied Social Sciences (ICSA) of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora – Campus Governador Valadares (UFJF-GV). Social networks have the potential to influence the way that students manage their finances, whether it is consuming or investing, as they facilitate the sharing of information and experiences. To assess their influence, a qualitative survey was implemented through an online form, made with Google Forms, as a data collection tool applied to a sample of students. The data collected was analyzed and processed via Microsoft Excel. The results indicate that, although many students use social networking applications as a source of financial information, there is concern about the veracity and reliability of this information. It was found that, despite the educational potential of social networks, students still face challenges to distinguish between reliable content and that which may lead to inadequate financial decisions. Therefore, it is concluded that social networks perform a relevant role in financial education, however their effectiveness relies on the capacity of their users to filter and critically assess the content that is accessed.