Once a simple entertainment platform, TikTok in Tunisia has now transformed into an unregulated financial and political tool. Under the pretense of charity, some influencers have turned poverty into a business model, collecting donations without accountability, manipulating emotions for profit, and even using their platforms to push hidden agendas.
With money flowing from the U.S. and Europe without any official oversight, TikTok has become a financial loophole where influencers receive funds with no taxes, no transparency, and no legal framework. Meanwhile, many of these same influencers spend their nights insulting, harassing, and even engaging in politically motivated content, while profiting from donations collected during the day.
The question remains: Where is the law? Where is government oversight? And who is truly benefiting from this system?
1. TikTok Donations: A System Without Control
A Financial Black Hole
Every day, thousands of dollars move through TikTok in Tunisia, with no regulation, no tracking, and no accountability. Unlike traditional fundraising, where organizations must provide financial reports and proof of distribution, TikTok influencers operate in complete secrecy.
• Many claim: “My supporters love me, they want to help me.”
• But who are these supporters? Many donors are anonymous accounts, hidden identities, or influential figures with unknown motives.
• No one verifies where the money comes from or where it goes—it simply disappears into private accounts.
No Taxes, No Transparency
• Unlike businesses or registered charities, TikTok influencers pay no taxes on their earnings from donations.
• This creates a massive financial loophole, allowing thousands of dollars to circulate without any legal oversight.
• The state remains completely absent, letting these individuals generate untaxed revenue under the pretense of philanthropy.
2. Poverty as a Profitable Business Model
Emotional Manipulation for Views and Money
During Ramadan and other religious holidays, live streams flood TikTok, featuring poor families, sick children, and struggling mothers. The goal? To trigger emotional responses and increase donations.
• The more heartbreaking the story, the more views, engagement, and money the influencer receives.
• There is no guarantee that these donations actually reach the people in need.
• In many cases, the money is used to fund the influencer’s personal lifestyle—new cars, luxury items, and expensive vacations.
This new “charity business” exploits human suffering, where influencers compete to see who can collect the most donations, not who can help the most people.
Fake Generosity, Real Profits
• Many TikTokers present themselves as “humanitarian figures,” but their only goal is to increase personal wealth.
• They collect donations without clear accounting, without publishing receipts, and without following any ethical guidelines.
• Viewers believe they are helping, but in reality, they are fueling a system of deception and corruption.
3. The Double Life of TikTok Influencers
Charity in the Morning, Hate Speech at Night
One of the most shocking aspects of this trend is the hypocrisy of many influencers:
• By day, they promote their fundraising campaigns, calling for donations and pretending to care about the poor.
• By night, they engage in insults, harassment, and even politically motivated attacks.
• They play both sides—acting as charitable figures while also spreading division and hate.
A Platform for Political Agendas
• Some influencers are linked to political groups, hidden networks, and controversial figures.
• TikTok is no longer just a place for entertainment—it has become a tool for influencing public opinion, pushing hidden agendas, and laundering money under the guise of donations.
• Foreign money, especially from the U.S. and Europe, plays a big role in shaping narratives, and without government regulation, TikTok becomes a platform for financial and ideological manipulation.
4. Where is the Government?
Despite the growing influence of TikTok on finance, politics, and public opinion, the Tunisian government remains completely absent.
• No regulations exist for online donations, allowing money to flow without restrictions.
• No transparency is enforced—unlike registered charities, TikTok influencers are not required to publish financial reports.
• No accountability is imposed—even when these influencers engage in harmful behaviors, authorities fail to take action.
A Dangerous Precedent for the Future
If this situation continues, TikTok will become a parallel economy, where individuals can:
âś… Launder money through donations.
âś… Manipulate public sentiment through targeted content.
âś… Escape taxes and financial regulations while accumulating massive wealth.
Without immediate action from the government, TikTok could soon become the most powerful financial and political tool outside official institutions.
Conclusion: A System Built on Deception
TikTok in Tunisia is no longer just about fun—it has become a platform for financial exploitation, political manipulation, and ethical corruption.
🚨 What can be done?
• Regulate online donations: The government must create laws that control financial transactions on TikTok.
• Ensure tax compliance: Donations must be taxed and tracked to prevent money laundering.
• Educate the public: People must be made aware of who they are giving money to and where it is going.
If action is not taken, this system will only grow stronger, with more money, more manipulation, and more deception—while the real victims, the poor and vulnerable, continue to be exploited.
