Wandering through someone’s alleys fields Syrian displaced persons In the north of the country, the same claim is heard from different stores. “Please like, share, please gift”, repeat several children’s voices together. “Please like, share, Woman“, they say. They’re talking into the phone screen. They’ve been spitting the same dozens of words into English for hours direct donations TikTok. Videos app is becoming the ultimate platform for the world to sympathize with you. despair. But now, a BBC investigation has revealed the inhumanity that accompanies their live show: TikTok stays with up to 70% consists of donations received.
dowkan only took $14 after going through eight days do it directly TikTok. He was not allowed to stop the recording to eat or take his medicine for several hours. This father of a large family took to the Internet to get money. my daughter’s heart surgery. In the store serving as a home Mona Ali Al Karim and her six daughtersthey use TikTok to provide a curative intervention blindness one of them. Her husband was killed in an airstrike during the war in Syria. Now Mona has been pleading for hours in front of a phone screen from the linoleum-covered floor of a refugee camp in her country’s northwest.
virtual gifts
to ask virtual gifts are valued by the real money that viewers buy. varies between gifts digital roses, worth 500 euros to virtual lions, which are only worth a few cents. Then users TikTok the person receiving them can withdraw them in cash from the application. In displaced persons camps, so-called “agents TikTok” Who is making this work easier? They provide families with phones and equipment to start broadcasting. They work with agencies affiliated with the app. Chinese Y Middle East. They are part of the global strategy. TikTok hire streamers and encourage users to spend more time in the app.
hamidOne of the middlemen in the field sold his cattle for a mobile phone, SIM card and a Wi-Fi connection that would allow him to work with families. He broadcasts several hours a day on the same phone. 12 different families. Hamid told BBC pays them most of the profits, except for operating expenses. Therefore, only TikTok stays even with 70% of donations but they also have to pay the middlemen. Additionally, in many cases, change houses remain. Another small percentage leaving families with little value.
five-month investigation
this BBC followed for five months thirty accounts TikTok Live broadcast from Syrian camps for displaced people. there, some two million people Those who have been evicted from their homes for more than 11 years of conflict. After making public the exploitation that the Chinese social network is subjected to them very poor families, TikTok It didn’t take long for him to explain. “We are deeply concerned about the information and complaints that have come to us. BBCand we got fast and strict measures‘ they replied.
“This type of content is not allowed on our platform and we are further strengthening our work. global politics on exploitative begging”, they added in their official statement. Although they accepted the commission for the digital gifts they received, they did not approve the payment. actual amount. Also, after the BBC contacted the company, this Banned all accounts. Some local charities have expressed their intention to help these families, but there are many and few monetization options.
For this reason, repeating requests for hours is the last option for these Syrians. beg online It is the only source of livelihood for those who have to live hand in hand. “My girls want presents and tell me what it is happy they’re there when they get them,” explains Mona, holding her blind daughter’s hand. “When they’re happy, they make me happy. me too”, Add. It’s that simple. The digital roses on the other side of the screen remind them that they still exist, that there are people who care about them. And so the echo of their voices begging for donations does not stop.