Christmas lights shine bright, marking the beginning of the holiday season. As you put up your tree, awaiting the guaranteed gifts you will receive, prepping the stockings that hang in front of your warm fireplace, it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle that comes with the holidays.
Living in our own christmas movie, we tend to overlook those who are unable to experience Christmas the way we do. Those whose biggest gift is a meal on the table or heat during the harsh winters. This is something that people have to worry about yearly as the holidays roll around, but do not fret, big name influencers are coming to the rescue this year.
Angel Trees have been around for decades, but have gotten mass recognition just this year as social media influencers have started a trend where they find an Angel Tree, and max out on all of the gifts for the children in need.
According to the Salvation Army USA, “Angel Tree is a holiday assistance program in which an individual or group sponsors a child “Angel” and purchases new toys, clothing, shoes, or gift cards for children ages 0-12. Every Christmas there are children who do not receive gifts because their families cannot afford the expense.”
Influencers doing charitable work for those in need sounds like a Christmas miracle, until you take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Their donation is not only used as content but also brings in a larger income for them. Some might do it out of the kindness of their heart, but perhaps then it would not need to be recorded and posted on line if it was genuine.
The promises of organizations and charities such as Angel Trees are that the clients who are in desperate need of basic necessities get what they need. Oftentimes we forget that on social media, everything is about the person and their platform, so rather than spreading awareness to donate or encourage the viewer to participate in an Angel Tree, we are watching influencers gloat about how much money they have, how much they can afford, and pass it off as a kind gesture for the needy.
This is not to say that every influencer participating in an Angel Tree is malicious and only in it for the money, but trends are trends, and people would do anything for a check, even if it means using someone’s less fortunate situation for their gain. So, before you draw your conclusions that someone is doing a really nice deed for someone in need, think about if their intentions are true, or if you are being used as a ploy to make the rich richer.
