What if they do it for fun?
Personally, I would have fun having a few thousands there (but I'm Canadian), it's not worse than having a few thousands over a gaming computer, or gambling at the casino.
If you consider Robinhood as the way to finance your retirement, well you are doing something pretty bad, but that was always true for any stock trading.
> Investing, Checking & Savings. All for Free.
> Robinhood gives you the tools you need to grow your savings, invest in your future, and do more with your money.
Does that sound like "this is not an appropriate way to finance your retirement" to you?
All brokerage accounts advertise themselves as investments, even if the reality is that idiots open them and lose all of their money trading options.
I mean, if you really have this expectation of marketing copy, I don't blame you, that's a totally legitimate position to hold. It's just not one I would expect many people to share.
And yes, this criticism does apply to most brokerage accounts. Most brokerage accounts don't have half of Silicon Valley fawning over them, though.
Robinhood presents a nice way of making it easy to get into the stock market with a pretty interface and without going through a cumbersome broker and paying fees for things you don't understand. Do seek professional help if you are looking for 401k and retirement guidance.
If anything, RH is sophisticated gambling.