A video lasts twenty seconds. Its creator shows a large profit, promises an easy process and adds a link. That can be enough time to discover an interesting idea, but it is much harder to understand every condition of a financial decision. Before transferring money, you need more information than the clip provides.
Identify the creator and their interests
Look for the creator's name, company and
verifiable experience. A large following shows the reach of a post, not
necessarily the quality of its advice. If someone claims authorisation to carry
out a regulated activity, check the relevant official register. An image of a
certificate on a profile is not enough.
Check whether the creator receives payment
for the post, a commission on purchases or another benefit. Paid content can be
useful when the relationship is clearly disclosed. In its guidance for
financial influencers, ESMA emphasises disclosing such connections and
explaining risks clearly alongside benefits. [12]
Assess the advice by what it explains. Do
you learn who the option is for, what it costs and when you could lose money? A
creator who welcomes questions and provides a verifiable source gives you a
stronger basis for a decision than someone who simply repeats a result.
Ask for the full story behind the numbers
A €500 profit tells you little without the
amount invested and the period involved. It matters whether the investment was
€1,000 or €50,000, whether costs are included and whether the profit was
actually realised. Showing the best trade also reveals nothing about losses on
other trades.
For a chart, check the start and end dates
and the unit used. A return measured in dollars may differ from the result in
euros. A selected short period can look very successful, while a longer one
also reveals deep falls. A past result does not determine your future outcome.
Pause particularly at promises of high
earnings without risk. Varni na internetu describes scams in which fake
advertisements featuring familiar faces lead to platforms with invented
returns. Even an initial small withdrawal does not establish that such an
operation is genuine. [14]
Ask the same questions about gold and silver
Precious metals have understandable
characteristics: physical ownership, an international market and the
possibility of inclusion among assets for the future. A good explanation should
show how those characteristics apply to the specific offer. A photograph of a
bar does not prove that the buyer will own it.
If content presents gold as a way to
diversify, check which evidence supports that view. If it offers a purchase,
find the price list, proof of ownership and delivery terms. A short video can
begin your learning, but a decision also needs the provider's documents.
Above all, distinguish the metal from a
service built around it. Any promise of regular payments or automated returns
needs its own explanation. The physical metal itself does not generate those
payments. [25]
Pause before transferring money
Close the link and find the provider
independently. Read information outside their profile and compare several
sources. If the offer only makes sense while a salesperson is there urging you
on, give yourself more time.
You and your
teenager can examine one post together and identify verifiable facts, opinions
and sales invitations. The aim is to learn how to distinguish an interesting
presentation from a sufficient basis for a decision, while keeping room to
explore financial content.
A conversation at home:
Choose one financial post and find information about its creator, their
interests, the costs and the possibility of loss.
Sources
[12] ESMA (2026).
Finfluencers Tips for responsible promotion
[14] Varni na
internetu (n.d.). Cryptocurrency investment scams in Slovenian
[25] World Gold
Council (2026). Gold as a strategic asset Potential risks and
challenges
