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People are BEGGING for Money on TikTok
11/07/25 - Friday
Hey Friend,
If you’ve scrolled TikTok lately, you’ve seen it. People livestreaming from cars, bedrooms, even hospital beds saying things like:
“Just need $30 for rent”
“Help me feed my kids”
Thousands jump in to comment, send gifts, or share Venmo links. It feels good to help, but it’s also become an industry.
And it’s an extreme version of the emotional manipulation influencers and brands are using to subtly take your money.
🧠 What’s Really Going On
Influencers are incentivized to create content that magnifies emotion, often that’s rage bait but any negative emotion is powerful, including sadness or empathy.
Studies show that emotional content (like crisis videos) spikes cortisol and lowers impulse control.
In short, when you see someone struggling, you’re more likely to give or spend without thinking.
Researchers even have a name for it: empathic overspending.
💔 Why This Matters
It’s easy to scroll past a stranger begging for money but what about an influencer you’ve followed for years. Or someone whose story reflects your own?
Have these strangers earned your trust and support or have they just positioned their content to cater to your preferences?
These are the real examples of influencers and scammers we’re talking about on today’s episode.
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On the Pod
On Tuesday we talked about the step that 80% of People Don’t Do When Grocery Shopping (and it's an easy fix!). Don’t miss it because it could save your family $4,000 per year on groceries!!
Tune in wherever you get podcasts and let us know what you thought of the episode over on our latest Instagram post!
Generosity is a beautiful thing, but it can’t be at the expense of your well-being. Don’t stop giving, just set clear and strong boundaries around it.
Warmly,
Jen
**Means this is a sponsored or affiliate section. We may earn a small fee or commission when you choose to try one of our sponsor or affiliate partners. But opinions are still 1000% our own.