Viral Begging on TikTok, Social Affairs Minister Issues Circular Prohibiting Exploitation of the Elderly

JAKARTA (January 18, 2023) – Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini issued a circular addressed to regional governments to crack down on the rise of online begging on the social media platform TikTok.

Previously, the Minister of Social Affairs promised to write to the Regional Government regarding issues that are currently busy on social media. "I'll write to the regional leaders later that (online begging) is not allowed," she said in Jakarta, on Wednesday (18/1).

The notice is stated in Circular Letter Number 2 of 2023 concerning Controlling Exploitation Activities and/or Begging Activities that Take Advantage of the Elderly, Children, Persons with Disabilities, and/or other Vulnerable Groups.

In the circular issued on January 16, 2023, governors and regents/mayors are encouraged to prevent begging activities, whether carried out offline or online on social media, which exploit the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and/or other vulnerable groups.

The Minister of Social Affairs circular also regulates the actions that must be taken if exploitation activities are discovered. Regional governments and the public are asked to report to the Indonesian National Police and the Civil Service Police Unit if they find begging activities and/or exploitation of the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and/or other vulnerable groups.

Moreover, the local governments are urged to provide protection, social rehabilitation, and assistance to the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and/or other vulnerable groups who have become victims of exploitation through begging, whether done offline or online on social media.

Recently, the public has been disturbed by the rise of online begging content on TikTok which exploits the elderly. Middle-aged mothers were asked to pour water over their bodies to get gifts or payment from the audience. Ironically, the exploitation is conducted by their children.

The elderly is one of the clusters handled by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Therefore, this phenomenon is of concern to the Minister of Social Affairs. On several occasions, the Minister of Social Affairs said that the elderly play a significant role in raising their children and offspring. Thus, the elderly should not be neglected, let alone exploited.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has various programs for the welfare of the elderly. One of the newest is food assistance for the single elderly. In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs, through Social Rehabilitation Centers spread across the regions, also provides various protection, guarantee, and protection programs, as well as social rehabilitation assistance services for neglected elderly.

Public Relations Bureau
Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs