Scrolling through social media these days feels like being at an investment carnival. One stall screams “flip a dollar into a fortune!” while the next demands a bottomless bank account to join the club. According to Fast Company Middle East, this dizzying dichotomy leaves many young people paralysed; the article notes that search results range from $1 “get rich quick” promises to advice that assumes you already own a yacht. It’s little wonder that 43 % of youth in the UAE have stopped making any effort to save or invest. When even adults are confused by the noise, how can we expect teenagers to sift through it?

Experts in the region suggest that technology itself might be part of the solution. Obediah Ayton explains that digital natives gravitate towards platforms that make investing feel like a game. In a gamified environment, teens can experiment with fantasy currencies, track fake portfolios and learn about risk and reward without losing their lunch money. That’s the theory, at least. In practice, the same social media feed that offers educational games also hosts self‑proclaimed “crypto kings” and “millionaire mentors” peddling cookie‑cutter advice. Marilyn Pinto, founder of KFI Global, cautions parents and youth that much of the viral content lacks nuance and cannot substitute for a solid understanding of personal finance. The risk isn’t just losing money — it’s developing a cavalier attitude toward debt, risk and due diligence because you followed a catchy reel.

How do we break this cycle? The answer, somewhat inconveniently, is not in a single app or influencer but in hands‑on parenting. The article emphasises that parents should instill financial discipline early and involve children in simple, tangible tasks. That could mean giving your child a weekly allowance and letting them decide how to spend or save it, then reviewing the results together. It could also involve inviting them to sit at the table when you plan a grocery budget or weigh the pros and

cons of a family purchase. These seemingly mundane conversations build a foundation that sensational social media posts can never provide. When children understand the basics of earning, saving and spending, they are better equipped to evaluate claims about cryptocurrency, stocks or real estate.

There are also promising examples beyond the kitchen table. In the UAE, initiatives like the National Bonds program reached hundreds of thousands of high school and university students, offering mentorship and on-the-job training to develop real‑world financial skills. The program’s Young Investor extension even targets children as young as ten, covering topics such as money management, savings and investments. These efforts demonstrate that a comprehensive approach — combining classroom learning, digital tools and family involvement — can cultivate financially literate youth.

At home, my own experiments have been both humbling and hilarious. We created a family “economy” with play money. Each child gets a paycheck for chores and can choose to spend or save. One week, my daughter blew her entire salary on slime and stickers, then fumed when her brother quietly saved enough for a coveted trip to the movies. The next week, she surprised us by saving half and even loaning her brother funds at a reasonable (but clearly parent‑approved) interest rate. These playful scenarios are teaching our kids to think critically, weigh trade‑offs and experience both the satisfaction of a well‑planned purchase and the regret of impulse spending.

By blending old‑school budgeting with modern digital tools, we can prepare our children to navigate a world where investment advice is just a swipe away. Encourage curiosity, teach them to question, and model responsible financial behaviour. When they eventually encounter the next “$1 to millionaire” video, they’ll have the foundational knowledge — and the confidence — to scroll past it or, better yet, to dig deeper and make informed choices.