{"id":6531,"date":"2026-07-15T08:54:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T03:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=6531"},"modified":"2026-07-15T08:54:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T03:54:08","slug":"plagiarism-is-absolutely-not-tolerated-woman-ruins-her-career-by-using-younger-friend-in-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=6531","title":{"rendered":"\u201cPlagiarism Is Absolutely Not Tolerated\u201d: Woman Ruins Her Career By Using Younger Friend In Need"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">While we expect a little bit of office politics or competitive drama, nothing quite prepares you for a massive, blindsiding betrayal from someone you actually trusted.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is exactly the nightmare a young cosmetology student faced when she turned to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/BestofRedditorUpdates\/comments\/1uu4p9k\/my_22f_friend_32f_posted_my_work_on_her_social\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">internet<\/a> for help.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After a trusted friend stole credit for her styling work and then ghosted her, the online community stepped in with brilliant, strategic advice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What followed was a wave of consequences her friend never saw coming.<\/p>\n<h3>A woman said that a friend at school stole credit for her work<\/h3>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"1-54\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=1-54.jpg\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Woman Trusts Her Older Friend But Gets Used And The Internet Gives Advice That Solves Everything\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?media_id=1-54\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-54.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10909069\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-54.jpg\" alt=\"A woman looks frustrated, holding her head, reflecting the feeling of being used by a friend and seeking internet advice.\" width=\"700\" height=\"500\" title=\"A woman looks frustrated, holding her head, reflecting the feeling of being used by a friend and seeking internet advice.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/woman-irritated-at-laptop-8374297\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">AI25.Studio\/Pexels (not the actual photo)<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>She had simply asked her friend to help with a client, but was met with betrayal<\/h3>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"d5144271-c8c9-43ce-8e6a-68d3c614efe6.pn\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=d5144271-c8c9-43ce-8e6a-68d3c614efe6.png\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Woman Trusts Her Older Friend But Gets Used And The Internet Gives Advice That Solves Everything\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?media_id=d5144271-c8c9-43ce-8e6a-68d3c614efe6.pn\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d5144271-c8c9-43ce-8e6a-68d3c614efe6.png\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10908791\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d5144271-c8c9-43ce-8e6a-68d3c614efe6.png\" alt=\"Screenshot of text: My [22F] friend [32F] posted my work on her social media claiming it as her own, illustrating being used.\" width=\"700\" height=\"573\" title=\"Screenshot of text: My [22F] friend [32F] posted my work on her social media claiming it as her own, illustrating being used.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_f98c102c30aa45068ae3fa39199c572e\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_f98c102c30aa45068ae3fa39199c572e.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_f98c102c30aa45068ae3fa39199c572e.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of text detailing how a woman trusted her friend to take pictures, setting the scene of being used.\" title=\"Screenshot of text detailing how a woman trusted her friend to take pictures, setting the scene of being used.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_b87ea9b342b111f96f1a6ee82705fa53\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_b87ea9b342b111f96f1a6ee82705fa53.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_b87ea9b342b111f96f1a6ee82705fa53.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of text about not receiving pictures, highlighting the woman's friend using her and ignoring requests.\" title=\"Screenshot of text about not receiving pictures, highlighting the woman's friend using her and ignoring requests.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_c7365be1b31f1a2d0592816312da8242\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_c7365be1b31f1a2d0592816312da8242.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_c7365be1b31f1a2d0592816312da8242.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of text: Still no pictures after repeated requests, showing the ongoing issue of the friend using her.\" title=\"Screenshot of text: Still no pictures after repeated requests, showing the ongoing issue of the friend using her.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_51c22c3e821a1623a78170beff1ab6b5\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_51c22c3e821a1623a78170beff1ab6b5.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_51c22c3e821a1623a78170beff1ab6b5.jpg\" alt=\"A woman trusts her friend who then used her. The internet gives advice to solve everything about the friend problem.\" title=\"A woman trusts her friend who then used her. The internet gives advice to solve everything about the friend problem.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_816bdd8e17561eb3147d6a5d4bae225b\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_816bdd8e17561eb3147d6a5d4bae225b.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_816bdd8e17561eb3147d6a5d4bae225b.jpg\" alt=\"A woman trusts her older friend. She discovers her friend used her, and the internet gives advice to solve everything.\" title=\"A woman trusts her older friend. She discovers her friend used her, and the internet gives advice to solve everything.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_a4eb71907fd284effae9865af394bfc7\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_a4eb71907fd284effae9865af394bfc7.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_a4eb71907fd284effae9865af394bfc7.jpg\" alt=\"A woman trusts her older friend who used her. The internet gives advice that solves everything.\" title=\"A woman trusts her older friend who used her. The internet gives advice that solves everything.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"7eb23573-9a74-4679-9900-18423b060f0a.pn\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=7eb23573-9a74-4679-9900-18423b060f0a.png\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Woman Trusts Her Older Friend But Gets Used And The Internet Gives Advice That Solves Everything\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?media_id=7eb23573-9a74-4679-9900-18423b060f0a.pn\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7eb23573-9a74-4679-9900-18423b060f0a.png\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10909193\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7eb23573-9a74-4679-9900-18423b060f0a.png\" alt=\"A woman trusts her older friend but gets used. The internet gives advice that solves everything.\" width=\"700\" height=\"364\" title=\"A woman trusts her older friend but gets used. The internet gives advice that solves everything.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/relationships\/comments\/4fad3p\/my_22f_friend_32f_posted_my_work_on_her_social\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">anon<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Workplace betrayal by a close ally is especially damaging<\/h3>\n<p>Feeling furious when someone steals your work is completely natural. After all, that stolen credit can easily cost you your next big opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/joop.70093\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">study<\/a>, published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology earlier this year, found that having your ideas stolen at work hurts deeply.<\/p>\n<p>When someone takes credit for your labor, you lose recognition and career prospects.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVictims of knowledge theft feel the loss of ownership of their ideas and the loss of recognition and reward that comes with it. This creates a lot of anger,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.utoronto.ca\/news\/properly-crediting-employees-their-ideas-key-building-strong-workplace-culture-study\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">says<\/a> study lead David Zweig, a professor in U of T Scarborough\u2019s department of management and the Rotman School of Management.<\/p>\n<p>This behavior causes victims to disengage, withhold future ideas, and stop collaborating. This also gradually damages workplace culture.<\/p>\n<p>In the author\u2019s case, it was a close friend whom she trusted who stole credit for her work. <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@coachpadraig\/what-to-do-when-faced-with-an-office-betrayal-b5b491f9215a\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Studies<\/a> show that this kind of workplace betrayal is especially painful.<\/p>\n<p>It can leave you feeling shocked, unvalued, and deceived<strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The author\u2019s friend operated under a false sense of security, viewing social media as a digital gray area where her betrayal had no consequences.<\/p>\n<p>Smartphones make taking a photo so easy that they have completely changed how we think about ownership. In the mind of a plagiarist, holding the physical camera and pressing the button translates to owning the actual labor in the frame.<\/p>\n<p>Millions of posts get copied across Facebook, Instagram, and X every day, according to a breakdown of internet plagiarism data \u2014 photos, captions, videos, and creative work lifted and reposted with no attribution. One <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@underratedshop\/the-dark-side-of-digital-artistry-discussing-copying-and-plagiarism-in-the-social-media-age-904118e3374f\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">survey<\/a> of digital artists found that 58% had experienced their artwork being stolen and reposted on Instagram.<\/p>\n<p>Social media feeds on popularity, making plagiarism an easy shortcut to fame. To get quick likes and followers, people will gladly claim someone else\u2019s creations as their own, especially if the original artist\u2019s name isn\u2019t clearly stamped on them.<\/p>\n<h3>What to do if someone steals your spotlight<\/h3>\n<p>Every major platform operates under copyright <a href=\"https:\/\/braslowlegal.com\/blog\/2025\/11\/18\/copyright-and-social-media-what-you-can-and-cant-post\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">laws<\/a> such as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If you post someone else\u2019s work without permission, the rightful creator can easily file a takedown report.<\/p>\n<p>Such situations can also be resolved if organizations take steps to credit the original creator.<\/p>\n<p>Zweig\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/joop.70093\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">study<\/a> found that restoring ownership by a leader or a colleague had a similar effect \u201cin terms of reducing perceptions of loss and anger and contributes to a more positive work climate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The study also found that knowledge theft was \u201ca really common occurrence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In one of their surveys, 91% of participants reported being a victim of knowledge theft, being a perpetrator (a knowledge thief), or witnessing it happen to others.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you see something, say something. You need to call out knowledge theft. Leaders need to do that. They need to be very cognizant that this happens. It can\u2019t be normalized,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/utsc.utoronto.ca\/news-events\/breaking-research\/stealing-credit-co-workers-ideas-and-work-hurts-critical-organizational-resource\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">says<\/a> Zweig.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/breaktheframe.com\/someone-takes-credit-for-your-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Experts<\/a> also recommend a few steps to make sure that you get the credit back:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Taking a quick walk or meditating helps quiet your anger so you don\u2019t make impulsive decisions you will later regret.<\/li>\n<li>Collect time-stamped files, emails, or schedules that prove you are the original creator of the work.<\/li>\n<li>Speak with the person privately, calmly present your proof, and ask them to correct the post or credit you.<\/li>\n<li>If they refuse to fix it, take your physical documentation straight to your boss, HR, or school directors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The satisfaction of watching someone face consequences is quite measurable. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/285788785_The_neural_science_of_altruistic_punishment\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">study<\/a> in the journal Science found that when people chose to punish someone who\u2019d treated them unfairly, a reward-processing region of the brain called the caudate nucleus lit up with real intensity.<\/p>\n<p>In a world where our digital footprints double as our professional lifelines, protecting our intellectual property has become a vital act of self-preservation.<\/p>\n<p>This story serves as a crucial wake-up call: we should not treat digital spaces as lawless playgrounds where unethical behavior goes unchecked.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>By refusing to stay silent, documenting our labor, and demanding accountability, we can actively reshape our professional environments.<\/p>\n<h3>People in the comments offered up solutions to help set things right<\/h3>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"ebd84dcc-af4e-46ea-99cb-e6c8eaf429ce-1.pn\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=ebd84dcc-af4e-46ea-99cb-e6c8eaf429ce-1.png\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Woman Trusts Her Older Friend But Gets Used And The Internet Gives Advice That Solves Everything\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?media_id=ebd84dcc-af4e-46ea-99cb-e6c8eaf429ce-1.pn\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ebd84dcc-af4e-46ea-99cb-e6c8eaf429ce-1.png\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10909939\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ebd84dcc-af4e-46ea-99cb-e6c8eaf429ce-1.png\" alt=\"A screenshot showing advice for a woman who trusted an older friend, suggesting reporting photo misuse on Instagram.\" width=\"700\" height=\"673\" title=\"A screenshot showing advice for a woman who trusted an older friend, suggesting reporting photo misuse on Instagram.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"7e3c7bbd-d654-446e-8dd1-0af7625d55b4.pn\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=7e3c7bbd-d654-446e-8dd1-0af7625d55b4.png\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Woman Trusts Her Older Friend But Gets Used And The Internet Gives Advice That Solves Everything\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?media_id=7e3c7bbd-d654-446e-8dd1-0af7625d55b4.pn\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7e3c7bbd-d654-446e-8dd1-0af7625d55b4.png\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10910002\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7e3c7bbd-d654-446e-8dd1-0af7625d55b4.png\" alt=\"A screenshot displaying advice for a woman who trusted an older friend, recommending contacting the school and legal counsel.\" width=\"700\" height=\"633\" title=\"A screenshot displaying advice for a woman who trusted an older friend, recommending contacting the school and legal counsel.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"7dd6f36e-5a34-4fd5-bcaf-f02e7c59fd1b.pn\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=7dd6f36e-5a34-4fd5-bcaf-f02e7c59fd1b.png\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Woman Trusts Her Older Friend But Gets Used And The Internet Gives Advice That Solves Everything\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?media_id=7dd6f36e-5a34-4fd5-bcaf-f02e7c59fd1b.pn\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7dd6f36e-5a34-4fd5-bcaf-f02e7c59fd1b.png\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10910047\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7dd6f36e-5a34-4fd5-bcaf-f02e7c59fd1b.png\" alt=\"A screenshot of advice for a woman who trusted an older friend, suggesting posting on r\/legaladvice and online reviews.\" width=\"700\" height=\"459\" title=\"A screenshot of advice for a woman who trusted an older friend, suggesting posting on r\/legaladvice and online reviews.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3>The woman came back with an update, saying she followed some of the advice in the comments<\/h3>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"2-31\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=2-31.jpg\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Woman Trusts Her Older Friend But Gets Used And The Internet Gives Advice That Solves Everything\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?media_id=2-31\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-31.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10909763\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-31.jpg\" alt=\"Hairdresser hands with scissors and comb, cutting wet dark hair, representing the act of getting used.\" width=\"700\" height=\"500\" title=\"Hairdresser hands with scissors and comb, cutting wet dark hair, representing the act of getting used.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/woman-getting-a-haircut-3993443\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">cottonbro studio\/Pexels (not the actual photo)<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_f012b0aa75546003e82560e5343a4b0f\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_f012b0aa75546003e82560e5343a4b0f.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_f012b0aa75546003e82560e5343a4b0f.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of a Reddit post update expressing gratitude for advice that solves everything.\" title=\"Screenshot of a Reddit post update expressing gratitude for advice that solves everything.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_9267cd4a3fdaac12916c534cd99ee655\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_9267cd4a3fdaac12916c534cd99ee655.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_9267cd4a3fdaac12916c534cd99ee655.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of a Reddit post detailing the process of seeking help from a school to solve a problem.\" title=\"Screenshot of a Reddit post detailing the process of seeking help from a school to solve a problem.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_2d313fa2abcdba796ac8c925fde36117\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_2d313fa2abcdba796ac8c925fde36117.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_2d313fa2abcdba796ac8c925fde36117.jpg\" alt=\"Woman trusts older friend, gets used. Client helped woman and gave advice that solved everything.\" title=\"Woman trusts older friend, gets used. Client helped woman and gave advice that solved everything.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_921a90610ea647bd5f8a55b766b42e8b\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_921a90610ea647bd5f8a55b766b42e8b.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_921a90610ea647bd5f8a55b766b42e8b.jpg\" alt=\"Woman trusts older friend, gets used. Directors got in contact with Mindy and gave advice that solved everything.\" title=\"Woman trusts older friend, gets used. Directors got in contact with Mindy and gave advice that solved everything.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_7f098db1b3afc5d73af62913c1e5e405\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_7f098db1b3afc5d73af62913c1e5e405.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_7f098db1b3afc5d73af62913c1e5e405.jpg\" alt=\"Woman trusts older friend, gets used. Directors are apologizing and gave advice that solved everything.\" title=\"Woman trusts older friend, gets used. Directors are apologizing and gave advice that solved everything.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_e599459ce4c9a2b49ed64cbe908e783a\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_e599459ce4c9a2b49ed64cbe908e783a.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_e599459ce4c9a2b49ed64cbe908e783a.jpg\" alt=\"Woman trusts older friend, gets used. Mindy got scared and internet gives advice that solves everything.\" title=\"Woman trusts older friend, gets used. Mindy got scared and internet gives advice that solves everything.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_5b488a96bb66cb4c1c8ec2d433f158ba\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_5b488a96bb66cb4c1c8ec2d433f158ba.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_5b488a96bb66cb4c1c8ec2d433f158ba.jpg\" alt=\"Woman trusts older friend, gets used. Directors at the school will be speaking with Mindys boss and internet gives advice that solves everything.\" title=\"Woman trusts older friend, gets used. Directors at the school will be speaking with Mindys boss and internet gives advice that solves everything.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"author_86b95e3c7a52f767eb71ec61c324f31b\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=author_86b95e3c7a52f767eb71ec61c324f31b.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/author_86b95e3c7a52f767eb71ec61c324f31b.jpg\" alt=\"The Internet gives advice that solves everything, directors called Mindy's boss about the woman who trusts her older friend.\" title=\"The Internet gives advice that solves everything, directors called Mindy's boss about the woman who trusts her older friend.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"58572a8f-f9fc-40b6-8bf3-fbdc29bae0de.pn\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?image_id=58572a8f-f9fc-40b6-8bf3-fbdc29bae0de.png\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Woman Trusts Her Older Friend But Gets Used And The Internet Gives Advice That Solves Everything\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/friend-stole-credit-for-work\/?media_id=58572a8f-f9fc-40b6-8bf3-fbdc29bae0de.pn\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/58572a8f-f9fc-40b6-8bf3-fbdc29bae0de.png\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10908911\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/58572a8f-f9fc-40b6-8bf3-fbdc29bae0de.png\" alt=\"The Internet gives advice that solves everything as Mindy has been fired for using her older friend.\" width=\"700\" height=\"572\" title=\"The Internet gives advice that solves everything as Mindy has been fired for using her older friend.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/relationships\/comments\/4fhy54\/update_my_22f_friend_32f_posted_my_work_on_her\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" staff-link\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">anon\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3>People in the comments were happy with the outcome<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n<div id=\"postPoll-10908756\" class=\"post-poll poll-wrapper single-post\" data-poll-viewed=\"false\" data-post-id=\"10908756\" data-main-post-id=\"\" data-poll-id=\"28499\"> <input class=\"post-10908756-poll-value\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"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\"\/> <\/p>\n<div data-bind=\"if: isInitialised()\">\n<div data-bind=\"if: !isLoading() &amp;&amp; isShowingResults\">\n<div class=\"poll-content\">\n<h3 class=\"answered-content-title\">Thanks! Check out the results:<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"answered-content-question\" data-bind=\"text: currentQuestionText()\"\/>\n<p> <span class=\"text\">Total votes \u00b7 <\/span> <span data-bind=\"text: totalVotesFormatted\"\/> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- Newsletter --> <\/p>\n<div class=\"subscribe-to-newsletter-block-wrapper\">\n<p>Newsletter<\/p>\n<div class=\"subscribe-to-newsletter-block\">\n<p><h3 class=\"title\">Subscribe to Access <br \/>Exclusive Polls<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"right\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/boredpanda\/images\/icons\/subscription-panda.svg\" alt=\"Subscribe to Access &lt;br\/&gt; Exclusive Polls\"\/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p>By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you&#8217;re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/privacy-policy\/\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-bind=\"if: newsletterSubscribed\" class=\"thank-you\">\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<p class=\"right\">Thank you! You&#8217;ve successfully subscribed to newsletters!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- Newsletter --> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script type=\"didomi\/javascript\">\nwindow._fbSDKPromise = window._fbSDKPromise || new Promise((resolve, reject) => {\nwindow.fbAsyncInit = function () {\nFB.init({\nappId  : '887842622821495',\nversion: 'v17.0',\nstatus : true,\ncookie : true,\nxfbml  : false\n});\nresolve(FB);\n};\n\/\/ Load SDK only once\nif (!document.getElementById('facebook-jssdk')) {\nconst script = document.createElement('script');\nscript.id = 'facebook-jssdk';\nscript.async = true;\nscript.src = `https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/${BoredPanda.Config.wp_lang}\/sdk.js`;\nscript.onerror = reject;\ndocument.head.appendChild(script);\n}\n});\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While we expect a little bit of office politics or competitive drama, nothing quite prepares you for a massive, blindsiding betrayal from someone you actually trusted. This is exactly the nightmare a young cosmetology student faced when she turned to the internet for help. After a trusted friend stole credit for her styling work and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/friend-stole-credit-for-work-fb.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}