A new TikTok trend is spreading false hope to borrowers with student loan debt. Videos on the platform claim that by filing privacy complaints or disputing loan records, users can get their student debt erased.
TikTok’s ‘FERPA dispute’ hack explained
The viral hack alleges that DOGE — formerly led by Elon Musk — illegally accessed student loan data. Based on this claim, TikTokers suggest borrowers can file complaints under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), claiming a violation of their privacy.
Some users say they submitted letters to their loan servicers. Others say they filed disputes through credit bureaus in an attempt to have the loans wiped from their credit reports.
Experts warn: you still have to pay
Financial aid professionals are debunking the trend. Megan Walter, an analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, told The New York Times that FERPA doesn’t apply in this situation. Even if a loan is temporarily removed from a credit report, it doesn’t cancel the obligation to repay it.
Experian confirmed to The Times that it was unaware of the TikTok hack. A spokesperson added, “Submitting a dispute does not negate a consumer’s obligation to repay their student loans, nor does it automatically remove the student loan from a consumer’s credit report.”
They also noted that if a consumer believes there is an error, they’re welcome to file a dispute — though that alone won’t erase the debt.
Millions at risk of delinquency
As of 2025, only about a third of the 38 million Americans with student loans are making payments, according to EdFinancial.
A report from Liberty Street Economics estimates that more than 9 million borrowers may see their credit scores drop due to delinquency this year. While temporarily removing a loan from a credit report might boost a score, the loan remains valid and owed.
Some borrowers say they simply can’t afford it. Others have developed strategies to avoid paying theirs.
SAVE plan blocked, but real options remain
Former President Joe Biden’s SAVE plan — short for Saving on a Valuable Education — was designed to lower monthly payments for borrowers. Although more than 8 million people enrolled by late 2024, a U.S. appeals court blocked the plan in February 2025.
Still, several legitimate student loan forgiveness programs remain in place, including:
- Income-driven repayment plans
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
- Teacher Loan Forgiveness
- Total and Permanent Disability Discharge
Borrowers can explore their options by visiting StudentAid.gov.
