TL;DR: Digital philanthropy is the new lemonade stand. Between MrBeast giveaways and Roblox charity items, kids are seeing "giving back" as a high-octane spectator sport. We’re breaking down how to move them from passive viewers to active participants using tools like Extra Life, Minecraft charity servers, and Tiltify without falling for "clout-chasing" traps.
If your kid has ever asked you to buy a specific skin in Fortnite because "the money goes to Ukraine" or watched a 24-hour livestream for St. Jude’s, they’ve already dipped their toes into digital philanthropy.
At its core, it’s just using the internet to raise money, awareness, or resources for a cause. But unlike the "envelope in the church basket" era we grew up in, digital giving is loud, visual, and often gamified. It’s less about a quiet tax-deductible donation and more about "If we hit $10,000, I’m shaving my head on camera."
We have to talk about MrBeast. To our kids, Jimmy Donaldson is the ultimate philanthropist. He’s the guy who builds 100 wells in Africa or gives a stranger a house just for staying in a red circle.
Kids love it because it’s spectacle philanthropy. It’s fast-paced, high-stakes, and looks like a lot of fun. It makes "doing good" look like the coolest thing you can do on the internet.
The downside? It can make "normal" giving—like donating $5 to a local food bank or volunteering at a shelter—seem boring or "mid." When everything is a viral stunt, kids can start to think that if a good deed isn't caught on 4K camera and edited with jump-cuts, it didn't really happen.
Ask our chatbot about the pros and cons of MrBeast's influence
Gaming is the most natural entry point for most kids.
- Extra Life: This is the gold standard. It’s a program where gamers play for 24 hours to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. It’s basically a walk-a-thon but on a couch.
- Minecraft Charity Servers: Many servers host events where players complete challenges to unlock corporate donations.
- Roblox Charity Items: Occasionally, Roblox will release "Limiteds" or gear where 100% of the proceeds go to a specific cause.
Teens are using TikTok and Instagram to spread awareness.
- Awareness Filters: Using a specific filter that triggers a donation from a brand.
- Link-in-Bio Fundraising: Using platforms like GoFundMe or Change.org to rally their "mutuals" around a cause.
This is the MrBeast Philanthropy model. Kids might try to make videos of themselves giving money to unhoused people or "surprising" friends with expensive gifts for views. This is where we need to step in and talk about dignity and the ethics of filming people in their most vulnerable moments.
Ages 5-9: The "In-Game" Giver
At this age, the concept of "money" is still a bit fuzzy (they think Robux grows on trees).
Ages 10-13: The "Challenge" Participant
Middle schoolers love a viral challenge.
- What to do: Participate in things like Team Trees or Team Seas. These are legit, verified organizations that use gamification to plant trees or remove trash from the ocean.
- The Lesson: How to verify if a "viral" cause is actually real.
Ages 14-18: The Digital Organizer
High schoolers have the tech savvy to actually run a campaign.
The internet is full of "charity" scams that are essentially just "clout-farming" or straight-up theft.
- The "Drop a Like to Save the Turtles" Scam: These are usually just engagement bait. Liking a post on Instagram does not magically put $1 into an account unless there is a verified corporate partner attached.
- Robux Giveaways: Many "charity" streams on YouTube or TikTok promise to give away Robux if you donate to their "cause." These are almost always scams.
- Third-Party Apps: Never let your kid link their bank account or your credit card to a "new" or "emerging" donation app they found on a Discord server. Stick to the big names like Tiltify or DonorsChoose.
The hardest part of digital philanthropy for us "analog" parents is the performative aspect. It feels icky to see a kid film themselves doing something nice.
But here’s the thing: for Gen Z and Gen Alpha, documentation is the currency of participation. If they don't post it, they feel like they haven't contributed to the "movement."
Instead of telling them "don't post it," try asking these questions:
- "If you couldn't post this video, would you still want to do the project?"
- "How do you think the person you're 'helping' feels about being on camera?"
- "Is the goal to make the charity look good, or to make you look good?"
Digital philanthropy isn't just about the money; it's about agency. Kids often feel powerless in a world with big problems like climate change or poverty. The internet gives them a lever they can actually pull.
As long as we're steering them toward verified platforms like Extra Life and away from the "sus" world of Robux giveaways, this is a massive win for digital wellness. It turns screen time from a passive "brain rot" activity into a tool for empathy.
- Check out Tiltify with your teen to see which charities are currently trending.
- Watch a MrBeast Philanthropy video together and talk about the "stunt" vs. the "impact."
- Set a "Digital Giving" budget. Maybe $5 a month they can "spend" on a digital cause of their choice.
Check out our guide on the best educational YouTube channels
Ask our chatbot about age-appropriate volunteer opportunities