Honey Extension Under Fire: Influencers Allegedly Duped by PayPal-Owned Tool
3 min read
The Honey browser extension, a tool frequently endorsed by social media influencers for its money-saving features, has come under fire. A recent video by YouTuber MegaLag accuses the PayPal-owned extension of engaging in deceptive practices, potentially harming both users and influencers.
Honey markets itself as a smart shopping assistant, claiming to find and apply the best discount codes during checkout. However, MegaLag’s revelations suggest the reality may be different. According to the YouTuber, Honey sometimes promotes lower-value discount codes instead of more significant deals. For example, when a store offers a 30% off code, Honey might display only a 5% discount, steering users toward deals that favor partnered businesses. These accusations imply that Honey’s partnerships influence which codes are promoted, prioritizing business interests over user savings.
Here's how @PayPal @honey has been stealing money from influencers: pic.twitter.com/MUIxQDnsMP
— MegaLag (@MegaLagOfficial) December 22, 2024
The controversy deepens when it comes to influencers who promote Honey. Many content creators recommend the extension, believing it benefits their audience. However, MegaLag alleges that Honey reattributes affiliate sales, ensuring that the credit for a purchase goes to Honey rather than the influencer who referred the customer. This practice potentially denies influencers the commissions they rightfully earned.
The claims have sparked significant backlash online. Social media users have taken to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Honey and its parent company, PayPal. One user stated, “If you’re using the ‘Honey’ browser extension, remove it. This is predatory & bad for the customer, the brand, and content creators promoting products.”
So, @LinusTech, the third biggest promoter of the @Honey extension on YouTube since 2017, found out it was a scam in 2022 (or earlier), and only stopped working with them—didn't even call out the scam.
— ㆅ (@howfxr) December 22, 2024
Is this guy legit? 😵 https://t.co/3YhEybR0Gw pic.twitter.com/JWaWZrvXFE
Another commenter linked the accusations to past security concerns raised by Amazon:
“Remember when Amazon claimed Honey browser extensions were a risk to your security, and everyone thought Amazon was lying? Now this video from MegaLag shows in detail how Honey is outright stealing commissions from YouTubers. Be careful with browser extensions that can manipulate your webpages and alter your cookies.”
As of now, neither Honey nor PayPal has issued an official response to these allegations. With its reputation on the line, many are waiting to see if the company will address the concerns raised by MegaLag’s video and the growing discontent among users and creators alike.
For users, this serves as a reminder to scrutinize browser extensions and their practices, even when they’re endorsed by trusted influencers.
Uninstall the Honey browser extension today! It’s been quietly scamming influencers of millions of dollars in commission for years. Extremely dishonest company practice by @PayPal @LinusTech @MKBHD @MrBeast https://t.co/E2WdRDdgfK
— chadwin 🇺🇸 (@Chadwin_s) December 22, 2024
Honey has stolen tens of millions of dollars from brands I manage. No one likes honey and this needs more light.
— Caleb Canales (@calebcanales3) December 22, 2024
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
