From the Editor's Desk

'Buy now, pay later' sends TikTok generation spiraling into debt

You may have seen some of these names - Klarna, Sezzle, Zip (formerly Quadpay), Afterpay and Affirm - pop up as you shop online, presenting an easier, more seamless alternative to having to type out your credit card information again and again. With a few clicks and a small down payment, you'll have what you ordered on hand - all you need to do now is complete your four payments.

The services, also known as point-of-sale loans, are heavily marketed by influencers and brands on TikTok and Instagram. They giddily display their "hauls" from the most popular brands, not just normalizing debt, but actually glamorizing it — and selling it as a way for trend-conscious young people to have all the coolest consumer goods, whether they have the cash on hand or not.

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