Date of Award
Spring 2023
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Advisor(s)
Sris Chatterjee
Abstract
Over the past few decades, the world, particularly the United States has seen dramatic growth in the presence and popularity of social media. So much so that it now plays a fundamental role in the majority of people’s everyday lives. It has become an essential tool for news and information consumption, allowing people to access opinions, posts, and current event information faster and easier than ever before. Consequently, if social media is touching every corner of life, it must play a role in investing and the financial markets. In this study, I examine the role social media plays when it comes to investor behavior and financial literacy. I examine the Fordham University undergraduate population through a replication of a similar 2021 study on Swedish investors titled Impact of Social Media on Investment Decision by Khalil and Nilsson. Like that study, I break down the analysis by examining three different variables: information from social media, online community behavior, and firm image. Separate from the replication of Khalil and Nilsson (2021), I decided to also examine the effect social media has on financial knowledge and social sentiment towards investing. The study found that the behavior of U.S inventors is, to some extent, impacted by social media. However, they were not as affected by social media as the Swedish investors surveyed in Khalil and Nilsson (2021). The study also found that social media has a positive impact on financial literacy and sentiment towards investing.
Recommended Citation
Barrett, Emma, "Social Media’s Effect on U.S. Investor Behavior" (2023). Gabelli School of Business Honors Thesis Collection. 7.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/gabelli_thesis/7
