Read on Twitter
Brb explaining to the ER doc I’ll be paying my bills in clout https://twitter.com/canderaid/status/1306404914793414656
Calling to negotiate my medical debt down to 150 Follow Friday shout outs and an IG tag.
I’m mired in medical debt from ending up in the ER once in 2019 when I had “great” insurance. It’s been crushing and affects every big life decision I make and I’ve spoken abt it. I’ll try telling the billing center that I interviewed Charli D’Amelio once tho that should do it. https://twitter.com/canderaid/status/1306595597756125184
This person’s misguided perception that anyone w/ followers is rich does show how ppl expect these platforms allow users to monetize tho. I recommend they read BI’s grt newsletter on the economics of the creator world. Sadly can’t pay bills in RTs just yet http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/influencerdashboard
Some people who otherwise might not be able to afford medical treatment build up online audiences and become “patient influencers”. They work w/ pharma companies to promote drugs/treatments to their followings who are often sick w/ the same ailments https://www.pharmavoice.com/article/2019-11-patient-influencers/
In March I wrote a big feature on how GoFundMe was being strained by COVID, how the platform has become the US primary safety net, and how any platform that relies on ppl going viral to be able afford treatment leaves many without care https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/style/gofundme-coronavirus.html
. @canderaid’s mentality where followers = free medical treatment is a depressing outcome of this. It shows people have internalized this broken system and are forcing unrealistic expectations onto these platforms as well https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/style/gofundme-coronavirus.html
I’m so sorry you had to go through this. Cultivating and maintaining an online audience and trying to go viral under normal circumstances is grueling enough (I’ve written abt burnout issues among creators). Can’t imagine how much harder it is when it’s literally life or death https://twitter.com/thenelgod/status/1306666144183402497
