By Richard Horgan Los Angeles (Knewz) — It was close, but when student discounts website Student Beans asked users which social media platform had led them to make a purchase after they saw an item featured, 60 percent answered Instagram and 55 percent said TikTok. Translation: It’s why companies pay so much attention to so-called influencers and treat them to VIP perks at places like Coachella. What these influencers like, and share, makes a huge impact. The report “Gen Z and the Future of E-Commerce” notes that Gen Z students in the U.S. spend $303 billion per year. And for many of them, it’…