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Fake Psychics on TikTok by Kristian von Sponneck

Reflections on the Controversy Surrounding “Psychic Medium Dean”

Fake Psychics on TikTok Disclaimer: The thoughts shared in this article are written from my standpoint as a practising Psychic Medium. They refer to allegations and discussions that have circulated publicly online concerning certain TikTok psychics, including commentary directed at “Psychic Medium Dean.” These discussions originate from third-party observers and online sources. I am not presenting these as established facts. My aim is not to attack or defame any individual, but to explore broader themes of ethics, responsibility, discernment, and integrity within modern mediumship—particularly within the largely unregulated space of social media.

Please note clearly: This blog post is NOT about Psychic Medium Dean James Fox, but Psychic Medium Dean (pictured above).

Why I Feel Compelled to Write About This

Mediumship, for me, is not content. It is not strategy. It is not something I decided to do because it would “perform well” online. It is a vocation that carries weight, responsibility, and emotional depth. When someone sits in front of me for a reading, they are often grieving, vulnerable, searching for reassurance, or looking for clarity during a difficult period of life. That is not something I ever treat lightly.

Because I hold this work with such seriousness, it concerns me deeply when I see widespread online debates about deception, manipulation, and unethical practices within the psychic world. Even when accusations are unproven or unclear, the ripple effect can be enormous. Public trust is fragile. Every allegation—true or false—chips away at confidence in genuine practitioners.

In recent months, a TikTok personality operating under the name “Psychic Medium Dean” has found himself at the centre of such online scrutiny. The discussion has been intense, polarising, and highly emotional.

The Accusations: Cold Reading and Hot Reading

The most common concerns raised in online discussions revolve around two well-known mentalist techniques: cold reading and hot reading.

Cold reading is a method where broad, flexible statements are presented in ways that feel personalised. For example, a reader might reference a common illness, a frequent initial such as M, J, or S, or emotional phrases like “they are proud of you” or “they say you worry too much.” These types of statements often resonate because they reflect universal human experiences.

To someone grieving, even a general phrase can land powerfully. In that moment, emotion can override analysis. The problem is not emotion itself—the problem is when emotion becomes the substitute for genuine evidence.

More serious are the allegations of hot reading. Unlike cold reading, hot reading involves prior research. In the digital age, researching someone is incredibly easy. When individuals book readings online, they may provide their full name, email address, and sometimes even direct links to social media accounts. The accusation made by some commentators—again, not a claim I am asserting as fact—is that information allegedly gathered from online profiles may have been incorporated into readings.

If such behaviour were ever proven in any case, it would not be mediumship. It would be performance disguised as spiritual communication.

Why This Matters to Me as a Medium

When I read discussions about these types of allegations, my reaction is not outrage. It is disappointment. Not just for the individuals potentially affected, but for the wider spiritual community.

The majority of mediums work quietly, ethically, and sincerely. They do not go viral. They do not chase algorithms. They do not engineer drama. They sit with people privately and do the work respectfully.

Yet when controversy emerges, it rarely distinguishes between individuals. The public narrative becomes broader: “Are all mediums fake?” “Is this all just research and guesswork?” “Can anyone be trusted?”

I regularly meet clients who arrive cautious, guarded, even sceptical—not because of something I have done, but because of what they have seen online. I understand their hesitation. When grief is involved, the fear of being misled is very real.

That is why I make my process clear. I do not search clients online. I do not request unnecessary background details. I rely solely on what comes through in the sitting. Mediumship should not need Google.

Why TikTok Creates Unique Problems

TikTok is not designed for depth. It is designed for immediacy. Content must hook the viewer within seconds. Emotional impact is prioritised over nuance. Dramatic reactions are rewarded with visibility.

This structure creates an environment where spectacle can easily overshadow substance.

Short-form readings posted publicly often lack context. The viewer sees only the highlights—the strongest statements, the biggest reactions. There is no room for pauses, corrections, or subtlety. There is no room for explaining how evidence unfolds gradually.

In such a fast-paced space, confidence can look identical to authenticity. A bold delivery, emotional music, and a tearful response in the comments can convince thousands within minutes.

It is the perfect environment for misunderstanding, exaggeration, and—if someone were inclined—manipulation.

The Emotional Cost of Public Controversy

When mediumship becomes controversial online, the consequences extend beyond views and followers. Real people are involved. Real grief. Real vulnerability.

If someone believes they have connected with a loved one and later discovers inconsistencies or alleged deception, the emotional impact can be profound. It is not simply embarrassment. It can reopen wounds. It can deepen mistrust.

It can also create a defensive backlash from loyal supporters who feel protective of the medium they admire. Social media has a tendency to polarise rather than clarify.

For genuine mediums working ethically, the cost is reputational. Public faith erodes. Scepticism increases. The sacred nature of the work becomes entangled with online drama.

Red Flags I Encourage People to Notice

I often advise people to remain observant rather than blindly accepting or aggressively rejecting. Discernment is not cynicism. It is wisdom.

Patterns of excessive vagueness are worth noticing. So is information that appears surprisingly aligned with what is publicly available online. Defensive reactions to simple questions can also be telling. An ethical practitioner should not fear respectful scrutiny.

Another consideration is emphasis. If the focus appears to be on follower counts, gifts, live-stream donations, and constant visibility, rather than on client wellbeing, something may feel out of balance.

Mediumship should not feel like a sales funnel.

How I Approach My Work

Because this topic is sensitive, I want to reiterate how I operate. When someone books with me, I ask for minimal information. I do not conduct background searches. I do not review social media profiles. I do not prepare scripts.

Each sitting begins neutrally. The communicator must establish themselves through evidence—recognisable characteristics, personal references, memories that hold meaning. Sometimes the details are strikingly specific. Other times they are symbolic and require interpretation. But they always arise within the moment.

I do not claim perfection. Mediumship involves interpretation and human filtering. What I do claim is integrity.

Spirit communication is not something I perform for entertainment. It is something I approach with reverence.

Fake Psychics on TikTok Closing Thoughts

The discussions surrounding “Psychic Medium Dean” highlight broader concerns about how mediumship is evolving within digital culture. Whether allegations prove accurate or not in any specific case, the larger conversation matters.

Social media accelerates belief and doubt simultaneously. It amplifies praise and criticism in equal measure. It can elevate someone overnight—and dismantle them just as quickly.

What must remain constant, regardless of platform, is ethical responsibility.

Mediumship involves people who are grieving, hopeful, and emotionally open. That trust must never be taken lightly.

I do not claim to have all answers about what is true or false in any particular controversy. What I do know is that authenticity, humility, and accountability are essential. Without them, the practice becomes hollow.

If you explore psychic content online, do so thoughtfully. Question respectfully. Listen carefully. And remember that genuine mediumship does not need spectacle to validate itself, and that fake Psychics on TikTok do exist.