PSA: "Free essay writing service" sometimes means "pay with your data"

[TerryDoo]

Hey everyone! I work in tech, and I want to share something important about those "free essay writing service" websites that seem too good to be true. Sometimes, they ARE too good to be true—just not in the way you think.

I tested a few popular free sites out of curiosity. Some of them are genuinely helpful educational tools. But others? They're collecting your data, selling your information, or (worst case) storing your essays in databases they later sell to plagiarism checkers. YIKES.

My advice: if you're using a free essay writing service, do your research. Check reviews on Trustpilot. See if they have a privacy policy. Avoid uploading entire essays to random sites—stick to outline generators or grammar checkers with good reputations.

Stay safe out there, scholars! Your work is YOUR work. Protect it!

 

[Jackman]

I never even THOUGHT about my essay ending up in a plagiarism checker database. That's genuinely terrifying. I've used a few "free" grammar sites without thinking twice—now I'm going to be so much more careful.

Question: Are there any free tools you do trust? I love Grammarly but the premium is expensive. Any safer alternatives you'd recommend for broke students?

Also, sharing this with my whole dorm group chat. You may have just saved our academic careers!