The 2024 CHOICE Shonky Awards recently made headlines by recognizing some of Australia's most disappointing products and services, with this year’s lineup featuring well-known companies like Meta and insurance provider NIB. The awards serve to highlight businesses and products deemed ‘shonky,’ which is Australian slang for dodgy or unreliable. They aim to expose flaws and encourage consumers to be more savvy about their purchases.
CHOICE, the consumer advocacy group behind the awards, put together this list as they draw attention to the pressing need for accountability among big corporations. Ashley de Silva, the CEO of CHOICE, noted, “We’d actually love to not have to give awards like this out, but sadly, that's not the case. We want to warn consumers and put the spotlight on retailers and manufacturers, encouraging them to step up.”
This year, the big winner of the dubious honor was none other than Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The decision to award Meta was rooted in their inadequacy when it came to protecting users from scams, significantly reflected in the numbers. According to CHOICE, social media scams recorded losses of $95 million last year, up approximately 250% since 2020. This figure indicates how pervasive and harmful scams on these platforms have become.
De Silva pointed out, "76% of the reported scam losses were traced back to Meta’s platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp. We submitted reports for suspicious ads, and some remained live for several days, demonstrating clear negligence." Meta has defended itself by saying they are investing considerable resources—over $20 billion since 2016—into security measures and have about 40,000 staff working on safety initiatives.
The second spot on the Shonky list went to NIB, which earned criticism for charging single parents more than couples for health insurance. De Silva highlighted the unfair practices within the industry, stating, "If you’re a single parent wishing to add your child to your health insurance, it effectively doubles your premium compared to couples who only see about a 4% increase." This discrepancy draws attention to wider issues around pricing practices within the insurance sector.
Next on the list was the Acerpure Clean Lite stick vacuum, which CHOICE testers labeled as the worst vacuum they have ever evaluated. The device, retailing around $199, failed to pick up basic household messes like cornflakes and flour, scoring just 10% on CHOICE’s effectiveness scale. Users found it not only ineffective but frustrating, as it frequently clogged during operation.
De Silva's remarks on the vacuum were biting: "The Acerpure vacuum bombed our performance test. It’s poorly made and doesn’t even come with standard accessories, leaving consumers feeling shortchanged."
Another winner of the Shonky Award was the Daily Juice Company for their marketing of so-called green juices. CHOICE found their "Green Mix" products to contain no vegetables whatsoever, relying solely on food dye to achieve the green appearance. De Silva exclaimed, "When you look more closely, you’ll learn there’s actually no green vegetable included. We recreated this product and it looked more like orange juice." Consumers expecting health benefits from vegetables were misled, prompting the award.
Rounding out the list were GroundingWell's grounding socks, marketed for their supposed ability to heal and improve wellness through electrical energy from the earth. Not only did CHOICE’s team find no discernible health benefits after testing, but the product was poorly constructed—so much so, they broke during regular usage. De Silva stated, “This is also a really poorly made product; the connection pin broke after only two uses.”
CHOICE's Shonky Awards aim to educate consumers about the products and companies they may be spending their money on. By spotlighting these shonky practices, they hope to invoke change and encourage companies to prioritize consumer welfare over profits.
With scams and misinformation proliferable online, especially via social media platforms, CHOICE believes the negligence displayed by these companies should not be tolerated. Consumers are urged to carefully evaluate products and services they purchase, ensuring those they support align with ethical practices. The annual Shonky Awards reflect the need for transparency and responsibility as they continue to highlight shoddy practices.
Last year, the awards helped stir consumer movements against price hikes and dubious discounting by supermarkets. De Silva remarked, "Just last year we gave Coles and Woolworths a Shonky for profiteering during the cost of living crisis, and this year’s awards are just as necessary. We need to keep the pressure on companies to do right by consumers."
The CHOICE Shonky Awards are not only about highlighting the worst but also about promoting awareness of consumer rights. It’s a call to action for customers to remain vigilant, protect themselves, and demand quality from the products and services they use.
