Social media influencers

FEATURE

Cliff Tan has 7 million followers and a 4-month waitlist. Why won’t he expand his business?

2026-10-08T10:15:00.000Z
Only 2.2% of the financial influencers, or “finfluencers”, on social media were found to have demonstrable relevant financial qualifications. 
THINKING ALOUD

When financial advice is only a click away, investors must be wary

2026-10-06T23:00:00.000Z
Chai, with her personalised My Pliage bag, wears a leather jacket, knit top, shirt dress and boots from Longchamp.
BTLUXE EXCLUSIVE

Salina Chai: From mopping restaurant floors to luxury leather handbag restoration

2026-09-25T02:30:00.000Z
As fatigue grows around perfection-driven routines, the smart move for brands is not more correction, but moving towards concepts associated with "comfort beauty".
THE BROAD VIEW

Beyond the ‘Sephora kids’: why Asia’s beauty boom might hit a wall

2026-06-05T23:00:00.000Z
The dedicated tribe of online influencers who helped build Trump’s 2024 Maga coalition are now loudly attacking the war with a mix of isolationist and anti-Israel themes.
NEWS ANALYSIS

Trump faces Maga backlash as online influencers shape the Iran war narrative

2026-03-16T02:41:15.000Z
Dubai’s appeal is that it is a safe, modern and prosperous oasis, a gleaming corner of stability in a turbulent region. The Iran conflict threatens this.
THINKING ALOUD

Who says influencers contribute nothing to society?

2026-03-10T23:00:00.000Z
On Sep 25, MAS sent advisory letters – which do not carry penalties – to five content creators who may have provided financial advice without a licence.

Influencers agree the ‘not financial advice’ disclaimer is insufficient, as MAS issues warnings to five content creators

2025-09-25T12:50:41.000Z
Seek financial advice only from registered influencers. Verify their representative number and credentials to ensure they are authorised to provide investment recommendations.
INSIGHTS FROM CFA SOCIETY SINGAPORE

Clicks and credibility

2025-05-30T21:00:00.000Z
TikTok’s algorithm is one of the main driving forces behind US government efforts to force its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to relinquish control of its international operations.

China suppliers mock tariffs with Nike, Lululemon deals on TikTok

2025-04-14T23:26:58.000Z
IShowSpeed (centre),  whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr, live-streams regularly to his 38.4 million YouTube subscribers, often for hours at a time.

YouTube star IShowSpeed woos US consumers with futuristic China tech

2025-04-11T02:40:09.000Z