Summary: SEBI, through Press Release No. 48/2026 dated August 17, 2026, cautioned investors against “live trading strategies/ real-time strategies” offered on social media platforms. The press release refers to SEBI Circular No. HO/47/17/12(11)2025-MRD-POD3/I/11107/2026 dated May 8, 2026, under which market price data may be shared for investor education and awareness activities without monetary incentives and with a lag of thirty days. A person engaged solely in education should not use market price data of the preceding thirty days of any security or indicate future prices or provide advice or recommendations relating to securities. SEBI stated that live market data is not permitted to be shared except for orderly functioning of the securities market or fulfilling regulatory requirements. It noted that certain social media users were offering live trading strategies and real-time tips, with substantial viewership and live chats where unregistered advisory services were exchanged. Such persons portrayed themselves as market experts and provided analysis, strategies, positions and expected targets using live data. SEBI advised investors not to trust such claims or make investment decisions based on these sessions and to deal with only SEBI registered intermediaries. TaxGuru has also reported SEBI’s caution concerning fraudulent activities on social media platforms and SEBI requirements concerning securities-market content on social media.
Securities and Exchange Board of India
Press Releases No. 48/2026
Caution to Investors regarding display of Live trading strategies on Social Media Platforms
SEBI vide circular HO/47/17/12(11)2025-MRD- POD3/I/11107/2026 dated May 8, 2026, inter alia, stated that market price data may be shared for investor education and awareness activities without offering any kind of monetary incentive to the participants, with a lag of thirty days. A person engaged solely in education should not be using the market price data of the preceding thirty days of any security or indicate the future price or provide advice or recommendation related to security or securities.
It may be noted that live data of the market is not permitted to be shared by any entity except for orderly functioning of the securities market or for fulfilling regulatory requirements. It has come to the notice of SEBI that certain persons on social media platforms are offering ‘live trading strategies/ real- time strategies’ to provide real time tips on taking positions in the stock market. It is observed that these live trading sessions are being viewed by a substantial number of viewers and live chats are also enabled beside the session where unregistered advisory services are being exchanged.
These persons portray themselves as experts in the securities market, provide detailed analysis of when to invest, when to exit, strategies to be followed and the positions to be taken on market indices. Some of these persons claim that they trade real -time while showcasing the performance of their trades, patterns that the market is forming based on live data and the target expected to be reached.
In view of the above, investors are advised to not trust claims of such persons and not to take their investment decisions on such live trading sessions and to deal with only SEBI registered intermediaries.
SEBI is issuing this Press Release to caution investors about ‘live trading strategies/ real-time strategies’ being offered on Social Media Platforms and be vigilant while carrying out transactions in the securities market.
Mumbai August 17, 2026
