Sugar Daddy Scammers In My Daily DMs

What fresh hell...

Welcome to Cheaper Than Therapy, a newsletter for 80s babies by Shani Silver.

As I write this, I don’t know if TikTok will be banned or not, so honestly this problem might resolve itself. I create content on the internet, using its broad range to share positive messages of narrative change, self worth, and hopefully helping people shed shame. There are many benefits to doing this, but there are most certainly consequences, too. The simplest explanation of what’s happening is this: Every day, every single day, often multiple times per day, I get DMs from older men with creepy, creepy facial hair, all saying some variation of the same thing:

“Hello beautiful, do you mind if I ask you a question?”

Over and over, without fail. Do you mind if I ask you a question? Do you mind if I ask you a question? Do you mind if I ask you a question? Do you mind if I ask you a question? Until my sanity approaches its cliff’s edge and my jaw clenches tighter than an impossibly sealed jar of jam. Do I mind if a scam of unknown origin invades my life on a routine basis simply because I’m on social media and I’m a woman? Yes, shitbird, I mind!