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TikTok sparks debate on what are 'normalized' scams: 'Nothing in life is free'

“What’s a scam that’s become so normalized that we don’t even realize it’s a scam anymore?” You’ve probably seen many TikTok users post in response to the previous question. As more and more TikTokers share their thoughts, the more people realize how common “normalized” scams are.

The trend began with user @debtcollective, who kicked off the topic of normalized scams with her take on student loan debt.

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“How is it that our grandparents paid $5 to get an education, but we’re paying hundreds of thousands of dollars?” @debtcollective said. “Something fishy is going on.

The comment section of the original video became so filled with people’s suggestions of normalized scams that TikTokers couldn’t help to start posting their takes using the app’s “Stitch” feature. This video posted by user @ohyesitslizzyb provides an interesting perspective on why paying to live on planet Earth is a scam.

“Humans are supposed to be this sophisticated, intelligent species, and we’re the only ones that have nothing but resources, and our dumba**es can’t take advantage of it because of money,” Elizabeth (@ohyesitslizzyb) stated.

Elizabeth’s takes sparked debate within her video’s comment section.

“You’re not paying to live on the planet. You’re paying for the services people provide,” a TikTok argued.

“You should have to pay for services but not land or natural resources,” someone responded.

“Yea, not a scam. Nothing in life is free,” a TikToker wrote.

Another TikTok user, Jessica (@couponing_coffee_target), went viral for her response on why laundry products should be considered a normalized scam. Jessica explains that the number of laundry products on the market is too much for the typical washing machine to handle. All you need to clean your clothes is detergent — everything else is a “waste of money.”

“You’ve been conned into buying all this stuff, spending all this money — it’s ruining your washing machine, and it’s ruining your clothes,” Jessica said. According to appliance repair technicians that Jessica has spoken with, the main culprit of washing machine failures is the excess use of fabric softener.

“100% RIGHT!!! I’m an appliance repair company owner and a tech for over 35 years. We teach our clients the exact same thing!” a TikToker commented.

“I just recently researched this, and you’re 100% right. I’ve started looking at everything in life completely different now,” another said.

TikTok user Hunter Kaimi (@hunterkaimi) also received lots of attention after posting a response video expressing why he believes two-week notices are normalized scams — specifically for service-related jobs.

“Unless it’s in a written contract, you do not need to give a two-week notice to quit a job,” Kaimi claimed. “It is not your responsibility as the employee to make sure that the employer has enough coverage to run whatever business it is.”

Many TikTokers agree with Kaimi’s statement that two-week notices don’t benefit the employee or employer and that two-week notices aren’t essential for low-wage jobs in the first place.

“They should give us a 2-week notice if they wanna terminate/fire us, lmao,” a TikToker said.

“They say two-week notices, so you don’t burn bridges. I’ve literally left a job without a two-week notice twice [at] the same job and been hired a third time,” another wrote.

The post Why do people on TikTok keep talking about ‘normalized’ scams? appeared first on In The Know.

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