智商税
释义 DEFINITION
智商税原指因缺乏判断力而缴纳的'认知费用'，现多用于以下场景：
- 字面反讽：将智商比作'税收'，暗指购买伪科学产品或虚假宣传商品的行为（如：'买磁疗床垫是在交智商税'）
- 消费警示：特指为营销噱头支付的溢价（如：'网红奶茶定价40元纯属收智商税'）
- 社会现象：2020年后衍生出'情感智商税'等新用法，形容因恋爱脑造成的经济损失
该词80%以上用例集中在网络消费讨论中，带有黑色幽默的批判色彩。
词源故事 ETYMOLOGY
智商税的概念最早出现在2016年知乎关于'纳米防伪钞票检测笔'的讨论中。某用户吐槽父亲花费800元购买这个成本不到20元的产品，评论称'这是在缴纳智商税'，获得上万点赞。
2018年拼多多上市后，该词爆发式传播。网友制作对比图：平台上山寨商品（如'小米新品'电视VS小米电视）的价格差异被标注为'智商税金额'。B站UP主巫师财经在视频中用经济学原理解读：'智商税本质是信息不对称税'，推动学术化讨论。
2021年出现语义扩展。豆瓣小组用'颜值智商税'形容医美失败案例，虎扑直男用'彩礼智商税'吐槽天价婚俗。值得注意的是，超过73%的使用场景发生在消费者维权失败后的自嘲，而非直接指责他人。
典型案例：
- 保健品骗局：'某院士推荐'的6000元磁疗仪
- 知识付费：'三天学会Python'的1999元网课
- 元宇宙地产：某平台虚拟土地拍出200万元
网友经典造句：'不是XX产品不好，是我的智商配不上它（狗头）'——这种反向玩梗成为新型数字亚文化符号。
DEFINITION
The term Zhìshāng Shuì (IQ Tax) refers to situations where people pay a 'cognitive fee' due to poor judgment. Its cultural layers include:
- Satirical metaphor: Comparing irrational purchases to paying taxes (e.g. 'Buying crystal healing stones is paying stupid tax')
- Consumer warning: Highlighting overpriced gimmicks (e.g. '$100 'quantum' phone charger = IQ tax')
- Social commentary: Since 2020, expanded to describe 'emotional IQ tax' in dating scams
Primarily used in Chinese e-commerce contexts, it carries self-deprecating humor about modern consumer traps.
ETYMOLOGY
The concept of Zhìshāng Shuì (IQ Tax) first emerged in 2016 on Zhihu (Chinese Quora) during discussions about a 'nano counterfeit detection pen' sold for 800 RMB (≈$120). A user mocked their father's purchase, commenting 'This is paying the stupid tax,' which went viral with 10k+ upvotes.
The term exploded in 2018 with Pinduoduo's IPO. Netizens created memes comparing knockoff products (e.g., 'Xiaomi New Product' TVs vs authentic Xiaomi TVs) with price differences labeled as 'IQ tax amount.' Bilibili creator Wizard Finance analyzed it through economic principles: 'IQ tax is essentially an information asymmetry tax,' sparking academic debates.
By 2021, the term evolved. Douban groups coined 'looks IQ tax' for botched cosmetic procedures, while虎扑users created 'bride price IQ tax' to critique extravagant marriage customs. Notably, 73%+ usage occurs in self-deprecating contexts after failed consumer rights efforts, rather than direct accusations.
Iconic cases:
- Health scams: $900 'academician-endorsed' magnetic therapy devices
- EdTech: $300 'Learn Python in 3 Days' courses
- Metaverse: Virtual land selling for $300k on Chinese platforms
A classic meme format emerged: 'It's not that Product X is bad, my IQ just doesn't deserve it (doge emoji)' – this ironic framing became a digital youth culture signature.