The phenomenon of electronic begging through live broadcasting via the TikTok application from the point of view of social media users in Egyptian society

Over the past two years, begging via cyberspace in Egyptian society has become an interesting and discussed issue, as well as a social problem of concern to social media users. With the widespread use of the TikTok application, many took advantage of the opportunity to obtain the benefits gained through live broadcasting through the application. Therefore, the current research sought to identify the motivations for using the TikTok application and clarify the vision towards live broadcast viewers in the TikTok application. In addition to monitoring begging strategies on the application and the reasons for resorting to them. This came through the tool of focus groups with a sample of social media users, and the tool of in-depth interviews with a sample of specialists in the fields of media, psychology and sociology, and within the framework of using the ethnographic approach that enables an approach to the phenomena of new media in its various forms and social, cultural and technological contexts. The research found that beggars on TikTok use multiple strategies to easily attract public sympathy. It is one of the most dangerous types of strategies used by content creators on the TikTok application: exploiting the elderly for financial gain, challenge tours, and direct solicitation through families and individuals. He also concluded that one of the most prominent negative effects of electronic begging on society is the spread of fraud, loss of trust among members of society, and the exacerbation of the economic gap between the poor and the rich. The research recommended identifying the role of social platform algorithms in the spread of the phenomenon of electronic begging, in addition to reviewing the laws and policies related to electronic begging in Egypt and various countries of the world. Over the past two years, begging via cyberspace in Egyptian society has become an interesting and discussed issue, as well as a social problem of concern to social media users. With the widespread use of the TikTok application, many took advantage of the opportunity to obtain the benefits gained through live broadcasting through the application. Therefore, the current research sought to identify the motivations for using the TikTok application and clarify the vision towards live broadcast viewers in the TikTok application. In addition to monitoring begging strategies on the application and the reasons for resorting to them. This came through the tool of focus groups with a sample of social media users, and the tool of in-depth interviews with a sample of specialists in the fields of media, psychology and sociology, and within the framework of using the ethnographic approach that enables an approach to the phenomena of new media in its various forms and social, cultural and technological contexts.
The research found that beggars on TikTok use multiple strategies to easily attract public sympathy. It is one of the most dangerous types of strategies used by content creators on the TikTok application: exploiting the elderly for financial gain, challenge tours, and direct solicitation through families and individuals. He also concluded that one of the most prominent negative effects of electronic begging on society is the spread of fraud, loss of trust among members of society, and the exacerbation of the economic gap between the poor and the rich. The research recommended identifying the role of social platform algorithms in the spread of the phenomenon of electronic begging, in addition to reviewing the laws and policies related to electronic begging in Egypt and various countries of the world.