A number of people have spent thousands of pounds on social media apps such as TikTok gifting live streamers and creators. This has lead to people getting into significant debt, or having lost life savings / inheritance. Many of these gifters are vulnerable people with either mental health or neurodiverse diagnosis’s. An app user recently ended their life after finding themselves in around £50,000 of debt from gifting creators. 

Many people are gifting for a sense of satisfaction or belonging. App users have spent thousands of pounds to feel accepted in communities, and others have become addicted to the graphics and adrenaline from sending large gifts. 

Gambling restrictions need to be enforced on social media apps, to prevent people getting into large amounts of debt. Although there is no monetary return from gifting many hope to gain the sense of belonging or community, whilst others benefit from supporting creators in battles and pushing leaderboards. Social media apps such as TikTok need to be governed by the Gambling Act 2005 to safeguard vulnerable users. 

A number of people have found themselves in significant debt on credit cards due to recharging for TikTok coins. In the UK, to purchase foreign currency using any form of credit is classed as a cash withdrawal, and lenders charge cash withdrawal and daily interest fees. The Bank of England & The Bank of Scotland need to class TikTok coins as a form of currency, as this would prevent recharging on credit cards and therefore reduce the number of people who have found themselves in financial difficulty. 

The government have previously rejected this proposed petition, as TikTok is an international company, however action needs to be taken to prevent others getting into difficulty and in some circumstances people losing their life due to the effect on their mental health.