“Hey kid, here’s some identification you’ll need for the rest of your life, but you’re not allowed to laminate it…”

Americans are supposed to keep the card with their Social Security number for their entire life. This sarcasm was posted on Reddit—Mildlyinfuriating on March 8, 2024, and it received over 70,000 likes:
 
“Hey kid, here’s some identification you’ll need for the rest of your life but you’re not allowed to laminate it. We went ahead and printed it on gas station toilet paper for you.”
 
 
Wikipedia: Social Security number
In the United States, a Social Security number (SSN) is a nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents under section 205(c)(2) of the Social Security Act, codified as 42 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2). The number is issued to an individual by the Social Security Administration, an independent agency of the United States government. Although the original purpose for the number was for the Social Security Administration to track individuals, the Social Security number has become a de facto national identification number for taxation and other purposes.
 
Reddit—Mildlyinfuriating
u/TheBionicBastard—March 8, 2024
“Hey kid, here’s some identification you’ll need for the rest of your life but you’re not allowed to laminate it. We went ahead and printed it on gas station toilet paper for you”
 
X/Twitter
Gary Phipps II
@garybear86
“Hey kid, here’s some identification you’ll need for the rest of your life but you’re not allowed to laminate it. We went ahead and printed it on gas station toilet paper for you”
9:20 AM · Mar 9, 2024 from Melville, IL·
 
Bluesky
Maladroithe
@maladroithe.bsky.social
I literally have mine in a fireproof safe, in a ziplock bag, and even then I only handle it twice a year if that
[Photo of a busted social security card “Hey kid, here’s some identification you’ll need for the rest of your life but you’re not allowed to laminate it. We went ahead and printed it on gas station toilet paper for you”
ALT]
1:30 PM · Mar 12, 2024
 
X/Twitter
Lloyd Legalist
@LloydLegalist
Hey kid, here’s some identification you’ll need for the rest of your life, but you’re not allowed to laminate it. Oh, and by the way, we took the liberty of printing it onto gas station toilet paper for you.
1:20 PM · Apr 14, 2025
 
Facebook
im not right in the head.com
October 7, 2026 at 6:51 PM ·
Shared by Declan Whitebloom
(“Hey kid, here’s some identification you’ll need for the rest of your life but you’re not allowed to laminate it. We went ahead and printed it on gas station toilet paper for you” is shown on an image.—ed.)