![\"\"](\"https:\/\/logie.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pexels-olly-3752834-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe extension\u2019s true power lies in its ability to manipulate affiliate marketing. Affiliates earn commissions by referring shoppers through tracking links. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Honey steps in at the final purchase stage, replacing the affiliate\u2019s link with its own. This practice guarantees that Honey claims the commission even when it has contributed nothing to the sale. As one creator put it, \u201cIt\u2019s so frustrating! They are making millions on our hard work!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dark Side of Honey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Honey\u2019s exploitation of a ” last-click attribution system is at the heart of the scandal.\u201d In affiliate marketing, the last referral link clicked before a purchase receives the commission.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Honey takes full advantage of this by activating it during checkout, ensuring it becomes the last click every time. This practice effectively strips commissions from creators, even if the shopper arrived at the store through a creator\u2019s link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Justin Germino, a technology expert, called the practice \u201cinsane and infuriating,\u201d especially given Honey\u2019s widespread use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another creator, Ehud Segev, explained the technical mechanics: \u201cThey use their offsite tracking ID by opening a new tab with an external link, overriding all onsite tokens. No matter what video shoppers watch, creators don\u2019t get paid. It\u2019s the biggest scam ever!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The financial implications for creators are enormous. One influencer estimated losing $35 in commission on a single sale, while Honey rewarded the shopper with just 89 cents in cash back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0\u201cThey\u2019re not just taking commissions,\u201d said Margarita Terterian. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just Amazon it\u2019s happening across all affiliate programs. Honey, Rakuten, Ebates\u2026 they\u2019re all doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Whistleblowers and Timeline of Exposure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This controversy didn\u2019t come to light overnight. It took years of investigation and whistleblowing to uncover the extent of Honey\u2019s actions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first significant alarm was raised by Linus Tech Tips, one of Honey\u2019s high-profile partners, who ended their sponsorship in 2022 after realizing how Honey undermined affiliate links. In 2023, the creator Mega Lag conducted an in-depth investigation, exposing the full scope of the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By 2024, the scandal had reached a boiling point, with creators speaking out and audiences questioning their use of the extension. As Mashav Shelef expressed, \u201cIs there a class action lawsuit in the works? This cannot be legal!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Honey\u2019s Double Messaging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Honey\u2019s business model thrives on a clever double message. To users, it promises to find the best deals on the internet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To businesses, it offers control over which coupons appear. This ensures that even when better deals exist, Honey applies less valuable discounts, keeping consumers in the dark. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One creator summed it perfectly: \u201cThey hijack shoppers\u2019 computers, override tokens, and block creators from earning what they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This deceit robs creators of their commissions and misleads consumers into thinking they are saving money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Honey\u2019s practices often prevent users from accessing the best discounts while prioritizing transparency over its business relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Fallout for Creators and Consumers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The financial toll on creators has been devastating. Affiliate marketing is a key revenue stream for many, and Honey\u2019s actions have betrayed them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Influencers who once trusted Honey now warn others to steer clear. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about the money,\u201d said one creator. \u201cIt\u2019s about the principle undermining the trust we\u2019ve built with our audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consumers, too, have paid a price. By relying on Honey, they unknowingly contribute to a system prioritizing corporate profit over genuine savings. Many users are now questioning whether they should continue using the extension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Honey scandal has sparked a movement for change within the creator economy. To protect their work and earnings, creators are taking the following steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Uninstall Honey<\/strong>: Creators are urging users to remove the extension. \u201cIt\u2019s time to stop enabling this,\u201d one influencer said. \u201cUninstall it and support creators directly through legitimate affiliate links.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Educate Audiences<\/strong>: Many influencers openly discuss the issue to inform their followers. They hope to prevent others from committing similar scams by spreading awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seek Ethical Partnerships<\/strong>: Creators turn to brands and platforms that prioritize fairness and transparency. \u201cWe need to support companies that respect creators\u2019 work,\u201d said a leading influencer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the dust settles, the Honey scandal has left lasting damage. It has exposed the vulnerabilities in affiliate marketing and highlighted the need for stricter regulations. While some creators have severed ties with Honey, the broader issue remains: how can the creator economy ensure fair treatment in an increasingly competitive digital landscape?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fallout from this controversy is far from over. It serves as a stark reminder that not all tools are as helpful as they claim to be. For creators and consumers alike, this is a moment to demand accountability and transparency before the following \u201cfree\u201d tool turns out to have an even higher cost.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The creator economy is built on trust between creators and their audiences and between creators and the companies they promote.\u00a0 Honey, a browser extension owned by PayPal, has shattered that trust. Marketed as a money-saving tool, Honey has been exposed for undermining creators by hijacking their affiliate commissions. This controversy has sent shockwaves through the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7939,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[254,300],"class_list":["post-7788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-influencer-marketing","tag-extension","tag-honey"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/logie.ai\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/logie.ai\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/logie.ai\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/logie.ai\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/logie.ai\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7788"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/logie.ai\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8703,"href":"https:\/\/logie.ai\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7788\/revisions\/8703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/logie.ai\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/logie.ai\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/logie.ai\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/logie.ai\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/logie.ai\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/01\/pexels-karolina-grabowska-6028573-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat Can Be Done?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n