TikTok Mud Bath Trend Exploits People's Generosity: State Minister

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno in his Tweet on Sunday, January 29, urged people against creating online content exploiting people’s generosity. His statement comes after a trend emerged on TikTok where elderly people are streamed live bathing in mud meant to garner gifts in the social platform’s live stream feature. 

He believes that this generosity, which he believes is a trait among most Indonesians, is what has been exploited by social media users who aim on getting easy money. 

“Indonesians are so generous. They get emotionally touched and transfers [money] once they see content like that,” said the Minister in a short video uploaded to his Twitter account on January 29.

In terms of social media content that encourage interaction and donations, Uno asserts that content creators must declare the allocation of the funds they received from online donations. 

“Being a content creator is not only a source of income. But it must bring goodness and usefulness to the table.” Sandiaga Uno said. 

This online begging type of content wildly emerged after a TikTok account called TM Mud Bath drew widespread criticism from the general public, especially after these types of content involved elderly people sitting in a mud pond for long periods of time throughout the live stream.

Head of the Muhammadiyah Malang University (UMM) Sociology Department Luluk Dwi Kumalasari urged people to stop giving gifts to such exploitative content. 

"The exploitation of the elderly, which is a new phenomenon of online begging has sparked public restlessness,” said Luluk. “Online begging is the right solution according to them. But it is also because, there is also an opportunity, there are no strict limits from social media in sorting out which content is allowed to be published and which is not.”

RIRI RAHAYU | YAYUK WIDIYARTI

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