Sick Americans say they’re turning to TikTok’s creator rewards program to crowdfund medical bills

“POV: you watched 3 times so my mom can pay for her medical bills,” reads one post on TikTok with more than 44 million views.

The post’s creator is one of many TikTok accounts with small-to-medium-size followings that say they’re turning to the app’s Creator Rewards Program to monetize views and comments as a way to tackle debts and fund medical treatments.

“POV: you stay and watch this video for 5 seconds to help pay off his medical bills” reads another TikTok post with more than 3 million views. The video features a montage of clips of Elijah, a child diagnosed with reactive airway disease and Factor XII Deficiency, a rare genetic disorder that impairs blood clotting. According to Rolling Stone, his mother is now using TikTok to raise funds for his medical bills, asking only for viewers’ attention.

TikTok users with an excess of 10,000 followers and at least 100,000 views in the past 30 days qualify for the Creator Rewards Program. The program compensates creators for videos longer than one minute, with payouts averaging about $1 per 1,000 views, according to those who have monetized their accounts.

For viewers, this means giving has never been simpler or cheaper. Just watching, liking, or commenting on a video can generate earnings for creators. For some families, this form of TikTok fundraising is transforming their ability to manage overwhelming medical bills.

“POV: you watch us dance for 5 seconds and it helps pay his medical bills,” reads another post with a mother dancing with her baby son. Under the video, one person commented, “Not me over here just letting this video replay over and over.” The TikTok account frequently posts similar videos, urging viewers to interact with them to help cover the baby’s medical expenses.

Turning to TikTok to fund medical bills is a harsh indictment of the American healthcare system. As the only high-income nation without universal healthcare, the U.S. leaves millions struggling to manage medical expenses. More than 14 million Americans owe at least $1,000 in medical debt, with South Dakota, Mississippi, and North Carolina facing the highest burdens. Altogether, Americans owe a staggering $220 billion in medical debt.


https://www.fastcompany.com/91242285/sick-americans-using-tiktok-creator-rewards-program-to-fund-health-care-pay-medical-bills?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss

Creado 9mo | 6 dic 2024, 23:10:03


Inicia sesión para agregar comentarios

Otros mensajes en este grupo.

Netflix is doubling down on full-season drops with season two of Meghan’s show

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’ latest season of her reality show, With Love, Meghan, drops today on Netflix. In line with the stream

26 ago 2025, 14:40:16 | Fast company - tech
Listen to the 10 most memorable sound effects in the history of tech

For understandable reasons, most technology coverage tends to focus more on the physical or visual

26 ago 2025, 14:40:15 | Fast company - tech
Where solar investments pack the biggest climate punch

The United States’ hourly demand for electricity broke two records last month, reaching its highest-ever level—759,190 megawatts

26 ago 2025, 14:40:14 | Fast company - tech
Doctors love this AI app because it gives them hours of their lives back

A typical physician’s job is much more than just seeing patients. In fact, most doctors spend hours every week outside of clinic hours catching up on typing notes and getting visits and trea

26 ago 2025, 14:40:12 | Fast company - tech
Agentic AI has companies excited and security experts freaked out

Agentic AI is being heralded as the future of the generative AI revolu

26 ago 2025, 12:30:04 | Fast company - tech
This man keeps buying and returning 110-pound anvils on Amazon

An Illinois man keeps buying and returning 110-pound anvils on Amazon—until “someone does something about it,” he says.

The creator, who goes by Johnbo Stockwell on

26 ago 2025, 5:30:09 | Fast company - tech
3 quick and easy ways to clear up storage space in Windows 11

Digital hoarders, unite! I have a game on my PC that I haven’t played in months, and it’s taking up more than 100 GB of disk space. There, I said it.

This is a scenario most of us find o

26 ago 2025, 5:30:07 | Fast company - tech