Last Updated on October 20, 2022
Everyone wants to hear that they’ll get that dream job or their “twin flame” will come back, and that’s the premise tarot readers on Tik Tok use to thrive. You’ve probably seen the caption on TarotTok, “if you’re seeing this, then it’s for you.” Many videos on this segment of Tik Tok emphasize that the content you’re reading is for you, and you can easily believe it because it’s on your “For You” page (FYP).
The innovative formula behind these videos is relatively simple, with tarot readers presenting a situation that reflects what you’re going through in life. For example, they could show a turbulent romantic relationship and provides advice through cartomancy. They could tell you to learn to practice self-control or stop self-sabotaging. The videos can provide comfort, validation, or direction, depending on what you want.
While it would be nice to make your problems disappear with a deck of 78 cards and the flick of a wrist, is it that simple? It’s a tempting proposition that draws a lot of skepticism and can pull even the naysayers on social media into the tarot’s orbit. So how has it affected different people?
Addiction to Tik Tok Tarot
Take the case of a paralegal who thought it was fate that she found these videos. Two years ago, she was in a blossoming romantic relationship, and anxious thoughts would flood her mind every so often. She couldn’t help but wonder if the man liked her and if he would text her.
With the encouragement of her friends, she turned to Tik Tok tarot for answers and came across many videos having titles like, “someone is on the verge of revealing their feelings for you.” Prompts like, “you must watch this,” and “keep scrolling if you want to know the truth” vied for her attention. Most videos featured bodiless hands adorned with unique rings, hovering over a downward-facing deck of cards.
The factor that propelled the paralegal to keep watching these videos was that the man she was dating wasn’t forthright with her. So, she would turn to the tarot readers to form the basis of the man’s feelings toward her. The videos always told her what she wanted to hear, soothing her feelings and giving her false hopes that the relationship would take a positive direction. So, she kept watching them.
That isn’t an isolated case. The tarot business is booming on Tik Tok, with the tarot hashtag accumulating approximately 1.5 billion views and still counting. In most of these videos, young Tik Tokers claim to be spiritual prophets. They record themselves doing tarot readings and make the viewers believe each video is exclusive to them. But, unknown to many, the content is the same across the board, with the same message going out to every user.
Unethical Behavior
A 35-year-old New York tarot practitioner has been practicing for many years and started long before Tik Tok existed. She says that genuine and offline tarot readers are concerned with the rise of fake online readings. One thing that gives the videos away is that they only come up on “For You” pages. That’s how the algorithm works, but people who don’t know this trick will quickly believe the messages are unique to them.
A 23-year-old tarot reader, a biochemistry Master’s student in Washington, feels the same. He is critical of the growing online Tik Tok tarot community. He notes that there’s an undeniable divide between genuine readers who practice it as a profession and online sellers. Sincere practitioners hardly start a video with the words, “this is for you” or “you must watch this” to instill a sense of false urgency.
He continues to say that Tik Tok tarot readers are too busy trying to maximize their engagement metrics. As a result, they hardly have time to delve deeper into the crucial details of tarot.
The most ethical way is to approach viewers from an informative angle. These two tarot readers don’t charge on the platform but provide links to their website for paid readings for willing viewers.
How to Identify Fake Tarot Readers?
Most Tik Tok tarot readers deliberately share the outcomes the viewers desire, especially in love matters. If a tarot video keeps posting the affirmation viewers want to hear, they’re more likely to book the reader for a session. People will return for reassurance if the readers give them the desired signs.
The content creators behind the videos also use career insights and remarkable life events to sway viewers into believing them. Others practice spirituality and determine yes and no answers to attract a larger crowd.
Another red flag is a “claim this energy” message in the video’s comment section. Viewers don’t need to like, comment, follow, or share content to gain energy. It’s up to an individual to accept the power with their hearts and minds. Simply clicking buttons on any online app is not divination, witchcraft, or spirituality and will yield no results.
Save Yourself from Being Scammed
There have been scamming allegations, with dozens of people tweeting that a famous Tik Tok and Instagram tarot reader had taken their money and not given them their readings. The paralegal in the case study above is a victim of one of the said scammers. Today, she looks back with regret for the time and money she spent on the videos. Leaving all that behind was one of the best decisions she made for herself. It allowed her to take control of her thinking and intuition. She no longer has to rely on a random person on the internet.
Final Thoughts
A tarot reader sending a general love message doesn’t mean you’ll get your old love back or find a new soulmate. The caption is Tik Tok’s algorithm thinking that is what you want to hear or see. Unless a tarot was created specifically for you by a tarot reader you initiated contact with, it’s probably not meant for you.
So, the next time a tarot reading comes on your “For You” page, here’s how to know if a Tik Tok Tarot reader is legit or just full of shit.