Research Shows 80% of Forex Advice on TikTok May be Misleading

In the research, about 33 per cent of traders said they have been influenced by fin-fluencers to make trading decisions, with 49 per cent of consumers depending on fin-fluencer recommendations.

The experts analysed 100 of the best performing TikTok videos across a range of forex topics to uncover the scale of misinformation. What they uncovered was alarming—from a major lack of disclaimers to a high volume of videos focused solely on flaunting wealth and lifestyle, with little to no trading context.

It was discovered that only 6 per cent of forex advice on TikTok encouraged viewers to do their research, and of the top-performing videos, 60 per cent of content came from male fin-fluencers, 35 per cent from female fin-fluencers and 5 per cent came from unspecified or AI produced content.

Further, only one in seven videos (13 per cent) analysed included relevant disclaimers, such as clarifying the risks involved in forex trading or stating that the content was not financial advice. This lack of transparency is particularly concerning given that one in five videos were actively promoting or selling a product or service, raising ethical concerns about the motivations behind the content being shared.

Disturbingly, the researchers uncovered that half of the forex related content on TikTok (50 per cent) was fin-fluencers boasting about their money made or their lifestyle with no relevant or trading context. Only 9 per cent of videos which included brags about money or lifestyle—fewer than one in 10—came with context as to how they achieved it.

Also, about 23 per cent of forex related content on TikTok contained actual forex trading information. Instead, videos often focused on lifestyle imagery, vague motivational claims or promises of quick wealth. This was often done without disclosing risks or from creators without verifiable credentials, creating a misleading impression of forex trading as a guaranteed route to financial freedom as opposed to a complex, high risk activity.

“The findings of our study are deeply concerning as they shine a light on the overwhelming majority of forex-related content on TikTok as potentially misleading or harmful. The research uncovered that very few creators encourage their viewers to do their own research or provide any meaningful trading information.

“Instead, it seems that the platform is saturated with individuals flaunting their wealth and lavish lifestyle without offering any transparency or context, which could leave viewers vulnerable to false expectations and financial risk.

“This is particularly concerning as a recent SEC report suggested that around 70 per cent of retail forex day traders lost money each quarter and two out of three forex customers lose money overall,” the Content Editor Head at BrokerChooser, Edith Balazs, stated in a report made available to Business Post.

“If you’re serious about learning to trade, TikTok is not the place to start. Reliable forex education should come from regulator accredited sources, such as financial institutions, professional trading platforms, or certified training providers, and not from fin-fluencers trying to sell you a dream.

“Always practice due diligence: question the source, verify credentials, and never take financial advice at face value. Critical thinking, combined with research and regulated education, is the only safe way to approach financial markets,” Balazs added.