This is pretty common among the coming-of-age generation that has grown up on the Web. It's more likely to be tried in communities organized around shared attri

This is pretty common among the coming-of-age generation that has grown up on the Web. It's more likely to be tried in communities organized around shared attribute, circumstance, or interest, than just shouting into the ether. Typically, these are posted on sites where the person has followers in a similar situation, and are shared on that platform until it slowly propagates outward. Many people who share the same adverse circumstances can't donate, so they share the posting instead, spreading it further. Eventually, someone sees it who is in a position to donate. It's likely that those who donate the most are on the fringes of the original community, but feel a sense of solidarity or guilt. The article mentions a few communities in particular. The unifying dimension seems to be that some people's real-life safety net is outweighed by their online one, even if they don't always receive the donations they ask. It's worth a try.