About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

Honey Influencer Scam: PayPal’s Browser Extension

By: Syndication Cloud
Honey Influencer Scam: PayPal’s Browser ExtensionPhoto from Unsplash

Originally Posted On: https://www.awkolaw.com/honey-influencer-scam-paypals-browser-extension/

 

Honey Influencer Scam: PayPal’s Browser Extension

Recent investigations have revealed troubling practices behind Honey, the popular browser extension owned by PayPal. What was marketed as a free tool to save consumers money may actually be costing both consumers and content creators in ways they never realized.

Affiliate Commission Poaching

Honey employs three main tactics to claim affiliate commissions:

  1. Cookie Replacement: When users apply coupon codes at checkout, Honey discreetly opens a new tab to replace the affiliates cookies with Honey’s own, thereby taking the opportunity for commission away from the affiliate.
  2. Honey Gold/PayPal Rewards: Offers users cashback points for pennies on the dollar in exchange for allowing Honey to claim the commission. In a test performed by MegaLag, Honey claimed a $35 commission while rewarding the user only 0.89 cents.
  3. Unnecessary Popups: Even when no coupons are available, Honey pops up to potentially claim the last click.

Honey’s Deceptive Marketing Practices

Contrary to claims of finding “every working code on the internet,” Honey allows partnered stores to control which coupons are displayed. This means users may not always see the best available deals. As a Princess Polly representative stated,

“With Honey, you can control the discount code percentage… It literally lets you control the customer journey.”

Massive Influencer Campaign

Honey sponsored nearly 5,000 videos across 1,000 YouTube channels, accumulating 7.8 billion views. Many influencers, including Linus Tech Tips, were unaware of Honey’s practices when promoting the product.

Impact on Businesses

Some businesses report significant revenue losses due to Honey applying unauthorized discounts. This may lead to price increases to compensate for lost profits.

Legal Implications

The allegations against Honey have sparked legal action. A class-action lawsuit has been filed against PayPal, seeking damages exceeding $5 million. The lawsuit claims that Honey’s practices constitute consumer fraud by deceiving users about who earns commissions and unfairly exploiting influencers’ work.

Ethical Concerns

The Honey controversy raises important questions about transparency in influencer marketing and the ethics of browser extensions. Critics argue that Honey’s business model exploits both consumers and content creators, undermining trust in the affiliate marketing ecosystem.

Industry-Wide Impact

The Honey scandal has broader implications for the affiliate marketing industry:

  • Attribution Models: The Honey platform uses a “last-click” attribution model, where all credit for a sale is given to the final interaction before the purchase. Honey exploits this system to claim commissions, often at the expense of affiliates like content creators and influencers who played an earlier role in driving the sale.
    • The controversy highlights the risks of the last-click attribution model, and may lead to calls for more equitable attribution models.
  • Affiliate Relationships: Merchants may need to reevaluate their partnerships with browser extensions and similar tools to protect their affiliate relationships.
  • Consumer Trust: The scandal may erode consumer trust in browser extensions and influencer recommendations, potentially reshaping online shopping behaviors.

Defending Honey

PayPal has defended Honey’s practices, emphasizing the benefits it provides to consumers. However, the company has not directly addressed many of the specific allegations raised by critics.

Influencer Response

Some influencers who previously promoted Honey have issued apologies or explanations to their audiences. Others have remained silent, possibly due to legal concerns or ongoing contractual obligations.

PayPal’s Controversial Browser Extension

The controversy has raised awareness among consumers about the potential downsides of “free” browser extensions. Many users are now more cautious about installing such tools and are paying closer attention to how their online shopping habits may be tracked and monetized.

Have You Used Honey from PayPal?

If you’ve used Honey and believe you may have been affected by these practices, consider reaching out to AWKO for a consultation. We’re investigating this issue and are committed to protecting consumer rights and supporting content creators impacted by potentially deceptive business practices.

More News

View More
Darden Restaurants: A Textbook Buy-the-Dip Opportunity
Via MarketBeat
Tickers DRI
Top 125 Family Businesses People Most Want to Work for in the U.S. [2025 Survey]
Via MarketBeat
Tickers AAPL
NIO's New Dawn: Why Wall Street's Bullish Turn Signals a Comeback
Via MarketBeat
Topics Electric Vehicles
Tickers NIO TSLA UBS
FedEx Delivers Good News: The Bottom Is in for This Stock
Via MarketBeat
Tickers FDX
3 Energy Stocks That Could Benefit from Geopolitical Tensions
Via MarketBeat
Topics Economy Government
Tickers BKR CVX XOM
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.