A viral TikTok video by content creator Shaniya (@shaniyarzu) has ignited a heated discussion about financial responsibility and how Black families prepare their children for adulthood.
In the now-viral clip, Shaniya challenges the idea that making young adults pay bills teaches them responsibility, arguing that true financial literacy should focus on wealth-building, investing, and career skills.
Paying Bills Isn’t Teaching Responsibility
In the video, which has racked up thousands of views and comments, Shaniya calls out a common parenting approach:
“Black people are literally so backwards. This not everybody’s Black family, but some Black families, they’d be like, ‘Oh, um, pay X bill.’ Like as soon as you turn 18 years old, it’d be like, give $75 to the light bill because I’m teaching you responsibilities. Paying bills is not teaching someone responsibilities.”
She argues that budgeting, resume building, and investing are far more valuable lessons than simply paying a bill, saying:
“What they need to be teaching us is how to create wealth so that we can keep on paying bills… Teaching someone to pay a bill is not teaching them anything. They’re going to pay bills regardless. That comes with age.”
Mixed Reactions from Viewers
Shaniya’s take sparked intense debate in the comments.
Some agreed with her perspective, questioning how older generations could teach wealth-building if they never learned it themselves.
- “How they gonna teach something they don’t know?” one commenter asked. Shaniya responded, “Learn!!! Same way we gotta teach ourselves everything ’cause the older generation didn’t.”
- Another user disagreed, writing: “My son pays his own phone bill. It’s his responsibility as a young adult if he wants to talk, and it’s the responsible thing to do. It’s not just Black people—it’s a lot of races that do it!”
- Others dismissed her argument entirely, with one user saying, “She mad at mom and dad lol,” while another wrote, “How is a broke person gonna teach you how to create wealth??? Do tell.”
The Bigger Conversation on Financial Literacy
The video highlights a larger conversation about financial education in Black families. Research has shown that many young adults enter the workforce without critical money management skills, contributing to struggles with debt and wealth accumulation later in life.
While some see early bill-paying as a way to instill discipline, others argue it fails to provide the broader financial knowledge needed to build economic stability.
With discussions about generational wealth and financial literacy gaining momentum, Shaniya’s viral moment deepens the ongoing debate about how best to prepare young adults for financial success.
