The growing clout of finfluencers is putting Sebi regulations to test

Between April and September, ASCI has observed 71 violations of its disclosure guidelines by financial influencers

With people increasingly turning to social media for tips and hacks, financial influencers – or finfluencers, as they are called – are gaining clout. Armed with millions of followers, they have the power to influence stock prices or boost a mutual fund (MF) offering. This has posed a regulatory dilemma for the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). While the market regulator cannot control every social media post, it realises the need for clearer norms to govern and increase the accountability of finfluencers.

Sources said Sebi is considering ways through which such finfluencers can be brought under the regulatory