What is it about?
This article explains why digital finance can easily become a debt trap for Generation Z. Today, young people can use paylater services, online loans, and investment apps with just a few taps. While this looks convenient and modern, the article shows that easy access often comes without clear understanding of the risks. Many Gen Z users learn about money from social media, where influencers and viral content present borrowing as smart, normal, and even trendy, but rarely talk about interest, fees, or long-term consequences. Paylater and online loans are often promoted as discounts or cash-flow solutions, making debt feel harmless. At the same time, financial apps use attractive design, game-like features, and personalized marketing that encourage quick decisions. Regulation and consumer protection have not fully kept up with these practices, leaving young users exposed.
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Why is it important?
The article emphasizes that this is not simply a personal failure of Gen Z. The real issue is the combination of low financial literacy, aggressive digital marketing, and weak oversight. To reduce the risk, the article calls for better financial education, clearer and more transparent information from financial providers, and stronger rules on how digital financial products are marketed, especially on social media. Overall, the article argues that without these changes, digital finance may create more financial stress and long-term debt for young people instead of helping them build financial security.
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Jebakan keuangan digital: mengapa Gen Z rentan terjerat pinjol dan ‘paylater’?, April 2025, The Conversation,
DOI: 10.64628/aan.9q9d6gxwm.
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