Medan, Indonesia – Every night, the staff at the Mutiara Mulia orphanage go through the same ritual.
They set up a tripod with a mobile phone attached and drag over a speaker to play soothing, ambient music. Then they start livestreaming on TikTok as the children sleep soundly behind them, soliciting donations for the orphanage and thanking viewers who send digital gifts that can be exchanged for cash through the app.
