Every Christmas growing up in Minnesota, Jimmy DartsB次元官网网址� parents gave him $200 in cash: $100 for himself and $100 for a stranger.

Now, with over 12 million followers on TikTok and several million more on other platforms, is his full-time job.

, whose real surname is Kellogg, is one of the biggest creators of B次元官网网址渒indness content,B次元官网网址� a subset of social media videos devoted to helping strangers in need, often with cash amassed through GoFundMe and other crowdfunding methods. A growing number of creators like Kellogg give away thousands of dollars B次元官网网址� sometimes even more B次元官网网址� on camera as they also encourage their large followings to donate.

B次元官网网址淭he internet is a pretty crazy, pretty nasty place, but thereB次元官网网址檚 still good things happening on there,B次元官网网址� Kellogg told The Associated Press.

Not everyone likes these videos, though, with some viewers deeming them, at their best, performative, and at their worst, exploitative.

Critics argue that recording a stranger, often unknowingly, and sharing a video of them online to gain social media clout is problematic. Beyond clout, content creators can make money off the views they get on individual videos. When views reach the millions, as they often do for Kellogg and his peers, they make enough to .

Comedian , a content creator formerly known online as B次元官网网址淪cumbag Dad,B次元官网网址� creates parodies designed to highlight the faults he finds with this content B次元官网网址� and its proponents B次元官网网址� as one of the most vocal critics of B次元官网网址渒indness content.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淎 lot of young people have a very utilitarian mindset. They think of things only in measurable value: B次元官网网址業t doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter what he did, he helped a million peopleB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� Podray said.

Recording practices prompt questions of ethics

From the recording devices and methods down to the selection of subjects, B次元官网网址渒indness contentB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� like everything on social media B次元官网网址� exists on a spectrum.

Some creators approach strangers and ask them for advice or for a favor, and if they bite, they receive a prize. Others choose to reward strangers they see doing a good deed. Kellogg performs a B次元官网网址渒indness challenge,B次元官网网址� asking a stranger for something and returning it in kind.

Many of these strangers are unaware theyB次元官网网址檙e being filmed. Some creators employ hidden cameras and aim to record subjects in a discreet manner. Kellogg said he wants to be as B次元官网网址渟ecret about it as possible,B次元官网网址� but asks for consent to share the video after the interaction. Kellogg said most agree because they look B次元官网网址渓ike a superheroB次元官网网址� after his challenge.

Another charitable content creator, , said he uses a GoPro camera and tries to make recording B次元官网网址渆xtremely noticeable,B次元官网网址� adding, B次元官网网址淐onsentB次元官网网址檚 the biggest thing.B次元官网网址�

Regardless of the recording method, some see the process as predatory.

B次元官网网址淭hese guys always find someone with cancer or always find someone who canB次元官网网址檛 pay their bills because theyB次元官网网址檙e stalking through underserved and poor areas and theyB次元官网网址檙e just sort of waiting,B次元官网网址� Podray said. B次元官网网址淟ooking through the parking lot like, B次元官网网址楬e looks pathetic enoughB次元官网网址�.B次元官网网址�

Karen Hoekstra, the marketing and communications manager for the , studies TikTok-based influencer philanthropy and says the videos, at times, take advantage of their subjects.

B次元官网网址淭he model of the man on the street walking up and approaching a stranger and handing them money is B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檝e all heard this phrase, terrible as it is B次元官网网址� it just strikes me as poverty porn,B次元官网网址� Hoekstra said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 exploitation.B次元官网网址�

Calls of exploitation often come when creators feature the same people across multiple videos, especially when they appear to be homeless or have a drug addiction. Liljenquist features some people frequently and maintains that his recurring subjects are like his B次元官网网址渂est friends.B次元官网网址�

One user commented on an that recent content feels like Liljenquist is B次元官网网址減laying case worker for views,B次元官网网址� as he posted several videos of a woman who followers suspect is struggling with a drug addiction. He records himself bringing her food, giving her a ride in his Tesla, and asking her questions that often get one-word responses.

Liljenquist said criticism doesnB次元官网网址檛 bother him because he knows his intentions are good.

B次元官网网址淚 love these people,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey love me.B次元官网网址�

Lack of checks and balances

Some criticize the showmanship of B次元官网网址渒indness content,B次元官网网址� but visibility is crucial to the model that relies heavily on crowdfunding. Kellogg is known to start GoFundMe fundraisers on behalf of his video subjects, usually bringing in tens of thousands of dollars in viewer donations.

Kellogg, Liljenquist and scores of other creators also use their personal accounts on payment apps like Venmo, CashApp or PayPal to accept donations.

Tory Martin, also of the Johnson Center as its director of communications and strategic partnerships, said transparency about donations is B次元官网网址渘ot an option if itB次元官网网址檚 just going to an individual.B次元官网网址�

Although these creators arenB次元官网网址檛 held to standards and regulations like nonprofits, Liljenquist said he feels donor dollars go much further in his hands than in the hands of traditional organizations, which he said are B次元官网网址渄esigned for failure.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淣onprofits B次元官网网址� not all of them, there are some good ones B次元官网网址� but I would just suggest you do your homework on the nonprofits that you are giving money to because thereB次元官网网址檚 a good amount of them who take advantage of the system,B次元官网网址� he said.

Some creators have set up nonprofit organizations or foundations to support their work, but that is not a widespread practice.

Podray said he is B次元官网网址�100% sureB次元官网网址� some creators B次元官网网址渢ake a rake or that thereB次元官网网址檚 some sort of nonsense going on.B次元官网网址� He also maintains that select creators hand out fake money to cash in on the trend.

Kellogg said seeing fraudulent or exploitative videos is tough for him, worrying, B次元官网网址淢y gosh, every Facebook mom just fell for this and thinks itB次元官网网址檚 real.B次元官网网址�

New wave of philanthropy

While controversy swirls around these videos in some online circles, they are part of a hugely popular social media trend with millions of supporters and thousands who are compelled to donate after watching.

Although Hoekstra has concerns about some creatorsB次元官网网址� methods, she said the introduction to charitable giving these videos make for young people is valuable.

B次元官网网址淎nything that can present philanthropy to them in a new way and make it accessible and make it exciting I think is a good thing,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淥bviously, thereB次元官网网址檚 going to be a learning curve, but I think itB次元官网网址檚 really exciting to see philanthropy be so accessible and understandable and embraced in these new spaces and in new ways.B次元官网网址�

Some skeptics have become supporters. Kyle Benavidez said he used to see B次元官网网址渒indness contentB次元官网网址� on social media and think it was fake. But after his mother was featured in one of and a Kellogg created for her raised over $95,000 to support their family while her husband is in the hospital with cancer, he said KelloggB次元官网网址檚 online persona is true to his real-life character.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a chapel in the hospital and I always go there every morning just to pray. B次元官网网址楬opefully something happens.B次元官网网址� And then Jimmy came to our lives,B次元官网网址� Benavidez, 20, said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like God sent him.B次元官网网址�

Kellogg shows no signs of slowing down his philanthropic work any time soon and rolls out videos across his social platforms almost every day. Still, he says doing good deeds on camera only matters if he and his peers keep it up when the cameras arenB次元官网网址檛 rolling.

B次元官网网址淵ou can fool people all day and you can make money and do this and that, but God sees your heart,B次元官网网址� he said.