Afghan Begging Shifts from Streets to TikTok Live Streams amid Taliban Ban
A year after the Taliban banned street begging in Afghanistan and imposed jail terms on violators, many of the country’s poor and child laborers have turned to online platforms such as TikTok to survive.
According to a report by Independent Persian, an increasing number of destitute Afghans—particularly in Kabul—are now using TikTok live streams to appeal to followers, most of them Afghans living abroad, for cash or virtual gifts.
One case cited involved an elderly man who was assisted by TikTok user Esmat Azizi, with more than 34,000 followers. Within two hours of live streaming, Azizi helped raise 6,000 afghanis (around $80). Similarly, another user, Maroof Rasooli, managed to collect nearly 3,000 afghanis for a man injured in a traffic accident through online appeals.
However, much of the aid sent in the form of virtual gifts is reduced after TikTok and foreign intermediaries deduct conversion fees, leaving only a fraction for the needy. “Users inside and outside Afghanistan often act as intermediaries to ensure the gifts reach those in need,” social media activist Mohsen Niko told Independent Persian.
Despite Taliban restrictions on TikTok and online games such as PUBG, Afghan users continue to bypass bans using VPNs.
The shift highlights how online platforms are replacing streets as a lifeline for many families. But the system is fragile, burdened by limited internet access, banking restrictions, and high transaction costs.
The United Nations reports that nearly 30 million of Afghanistan’s 40 million people require humanitarian aid in 2025, with 7.8 million women and children in urgent need of food assistance.
For many struggling families, TikTok live streams have become not just a new way of begging but a desperate means of survival in a country still trapped in humanitarian crisis.
