By Gio Arteaga
In the VERY wide world of TikTok, where creativity meets marketing, few personalities have sparked as much conversation over the creator @Im_clean_girl. With a significant following, she has carved out a niche by showcasing her ‘cleaning skills,’ mainly focusing on the often-overlooked task of cleaning graves. One may see her actions as charity or doing a good deed. However, her approach—cleaning the graves of strangers as a means of promoting a cleaning product—has raised eyebrows and ignited debate about the ethics of her actions. “Im_clean_girl,” whose real name remains unknown, gained popularity by posting videos showing her passion for cleaning. Her aesthetic approach – cleaning with foam products and various sponges and brushes- –combines satisfying visuals with a personal touch, making the mundane tasks of cleaning seem appealing. However, her recent videos, which feature her scrubbing and “sprucing up” the graves of deceased individuals, have stirred ethical concerns. While she intends to promote her specific cleaning product, many viewers question whether the graveyard is an appropriate place for such marketing.
At the heart of the backlash against @Im_clean_girl is the question of respect. Graves are sacred spaces to honor and remember those no longer with us. Cleaning them can be meaningful with genuine intention and respect for the deceased and their loved ones. Similar to content creator @headstone.history who piloted a similar series – Cleaning Graves – but unlike clean girl who cleans and asks questions like “I wonder who’s buried here?” or “This is super cool, two people are buried right next to each other!” Headstone History explains the significance of her work and gives honor to the people who’s graves she cleans. This commentary change the narrative and show the audience how damaging this ‘trend’ is. However, turning these spaces into a product-promotion backdrop raises ethical concerns.
Another critical aspect of this issue is the potential impact on grieving families. Imagine visiting the grave of a loved one, only to find it featured in a TikTok video promoting cleaning supplies. The intrusion of commercialism into such a personal and emotional space sets an invasive and disrespectful tone. For many, the act of mourning death is intensely private, and seeing their loved one’s resting place used for profit evokes feelings of anger and sadness in not only the families but her audience as well.
However, as content creators continue to push the boundaries of what is acceptable in the pursuit of engagement and profit, the question and call to action becomes increasingly important to hold them accountable. While creativity in marketing is commendable, it should never come at the expense of respect for those who have passed on and their families.