Why Did a 63-Year-Old Man Gift Nearly $7,000 to a Streamer in Just One Month?
Mr. Zhang, 63, living in Shanghai, China, is the latest individual at the center of a string of stories surrounding the livestreaming industry. In just 43 days, he donated nearly 180,000 yuan (over $25,000) to a streamer known as “Xiao Shiqi 712” – a person who has made Mr. Zhang a daily source of entertainment and engagement.
Mr. Zhang, along with his wife, has been struggling with depression since 2021 and initially hoped that watching livestreams would help him break out of his shell. However, over time, he became increasingly absorbed in the act of gifting. He even spent on high-value items worth hundreds of thousands of yuan, primarily to receive thank-you messages and show his interest in the streamer.
The situation took a drastic turn after media reports surfaced, leading the authorities to get involved. The streamer quickly deleted their account and “disappeared” without leaving any trace. Not only that, she reappeared under a different name and continued streaming as if nothing had happened, leaving netizens in China feeling utterly frustrated.
Addressing the Exploitation of Streamers
After discovering the situation, Mr. Zhang’s family reached out to the livestream platform requesting a refund of the funds, but they only received a cold response: “Refunds are not applicable to virtual gifting.” They sought to get their money back from the platform, creating a troubling atmosphere for users who unwittingly “fell into a trap.”
This incident is not an isolated case. In fact, it is becoming increasingly common for older adults to engage in livestream platforms. A significant portion of these individuals lacks the necessary skills to navigate the complex psychological landscape that comes with being a part of a streamer’s audience, while the platforms often fail to take responsibility for the social and ethical implications of their services.
This situation serves as a wake-up call for the livestreaming industry. It is clear that there is a pressing need to establish stricter standards for ethical conduct and to implement monitoring systems that can detect accounts showing signs of exploitation, particularly for vulnerable users. Transparency and fairness must be prioritized to protect all users.
Source: Sohu
