ONLINE LOANS AND ONLINE GAMBLING IN THE CONSUMERIST REALITY OF GENERATION Z: A MIXED-METHODS PERCEPTION STUDY

The increasingly entrenched consumerist lifestyle among Generation Z has led to the emergence of various risky financial behaviors, such as the use of online loans and engagement in online gambling. This study aims to explore the interrelationship between consumerist behavior, the use of online loans, and the tendency to participate in online gambling among university students. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a quantitative survey of 61 respondents with in-depth interviews involving selected informants. The findings reveal that consumerist behavior has a significant influence on both the use of online loans and the tendency to engage in online gambling. Furthermore, the use of online loans was also found to contribute to deeper involvement in online gambling practices. These results highlight that easy access to digital financial services, if not accompanied by adequate financial literacy, can exacerbate the negative effects of consumerist lifestyles. This study is expected to serve as an initial foundation for developing more inclusive financial literacy strategies and consumer protection policies, particularly for younger generations growing up within the digital economy ecosystem.