Oliver Moss (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
olivermoss) wrote2024-12-23 06:34 pm
olivermoss) wrote2024-12-23 06:34 pm
Honey
There is a video about a day old with six million views already on Honey, the free browser extension that saves you money. The video is here and I highly recommend it. I clicking it knowing, of course, that Honey has to be a scam. I was prepared for the major revelation being stuff I'd assumed. I am smart and know things about scams and internet browsers! I was so wrong. It's so much more. I did not feel smart and validated by this, I felt the opposite because I'd have never have guessed.
Though, all that aside, how bad is basic internet literacy that people bought the idea that a free browser extension that has money for ads could be anything but a scam? They sponsored Mr Beast videos, not just with ad reads but full on skits and those cost more. One reason why Mr Beast started selling food was because he's so big that a fair payment for him accepting a sponsorship is more than most companies can afford. Beast Burger, those chocolate bars and now Lunchly come directly out of the fact that he's so big that it's almost never worth it for him to do an ad for any company where he's not getting a taste of the backend.
The main thing is that it's replacing creator referral codes with one for Paypal. So, you go and watch a tech review, use the creator link but paypal nabs a cut of the sales instead of the creator.
There is a lot more to it and also the product was not working as stated, since Honey does it's thing after you've decided to check out, it only applies coupons that site owner approves of, not the biggest deal out there. And sometimes it finds no coupons and tells you to be confident that you are still getting the best price.
So they pay creators to promote Honey, and then Honey takes over one of their income streams.
Though, all that aside, how bad is basic internet literacy that people bought the idea that a free browser extension that has money for ads could be anything but a scam? They sponsored Mr Beast videos, not just with ad reads but full on skits and those cost more. One reason why Mr Beast started selling food was because he's so big that a fair payment for him accepting a sponsorship is more than most companies can afford. Beast Burger, those chocolate bars and now Lunchly come directly out of the fact that he's so big that it's almost never worth it for him to do an ad for any company where he's not getting a taste of the backend.
The video is short and explains stuff very nicely, but if you want a super short summary
The main thing is that it's replacing creator referral codes with one for Paypal. So, you go and watch a tech review, use the creator link but paypal nabs a cut of the sales instead of the creator.
There is a lot more to it and also the product was not working as stated, since Honey does it's thing after you've decided to check out, it only applies coupons that site owner approves of, not the biggest deal out there. And sometimes it finds no coupons and tells you to be confident that you are still getting the best price.
So they pay creators to promote Honey, and then Honey takes over one of their income streams.