I’m only one episode into “The Vow,” HBO’s documentary about the NXIVM scandal, but it’s incredible how much the supposed personal development company followed the same path as other multi-level marketing schemes, from how the coded reward structure kept members striving to how it employed cult-like techniques to rope them in. It’s a great reminder to say no to joining or buying from an MLM, and below, reporter Casey Bond shares how to say no in a way that’s final.

‌

Janie

Whether it’s a cousin, friend of a friend or former classmate you haven’t spoken to in years, you likely have at least one connection who joined a multi-level marketing company and now sees themselves as a small business owner. They repeatedly pitch you to buy their products or join their team, spamming you with Facebook or Instagram messages, even if you already declined. Here’s how to make your “no thanks” stick:

Video conferencing with friends and coworkers may have been a novelty at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but at this point, new behavioral quirks unique to screen-only interactions are cemented in our lives. Here are some of the funniest tweets summing up the socially awkward new habits we’ve picked up on video conference calls:

With so much unknown about how the coronavirus will affect college campuses across the country, there’s a renewed focus on refund policies and tuition insurance. Only 6% of schools refund 100% of tuition if a student needs to withdraw past the drop date for medical reasons — and most schools won’t refund academic fees, housing or books in the case of a medical withdrawal. But before you run out and buy a tuition insurance policy for you or your child, be sure it covers withdrawals due to COVID-19 (spoiler alert: It probably doesn’t). Here’s what you need to know about tuition insurance and whether it’s worth it.

• Should You Ever Sign A COVID-19 Liability Waiver?
• 4 Warning Signs That Contact-Tracing Call, Email Or Text Is A Scam
• Black People Believe Racial Hiring Discrimination Exists Where They Work. White People Disagree.

HuffPost Events