Over the past three months, search interest in “student side hustles” has surged more than 3.5x on TikTok alone, with related content now attracting an estimated 227,000 daily views.
Experts at Hopp by Wix have outlined the key red flags students should watch for when exploring side-hustle opportunities.
Large upfront payments or subscription-only access
Consumer protection guidance from the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) highlights that advance-fee models can be a risk indicator in online services where outcomes are unclear or unverified.
Students should be cautious of paying high upfront costs before seeing clear, tangible value or outcomes. Many credible skills, from marketing basics to freelancing foundations, are also widely available through free educational platforms, reducing the need for early financial commitment when things are unclear
