A social media influencer passed away shortly after live-streaming himself consuming multiple bottles of potent alcohol on a platform similar to TikTok. This incident is expected to reignite discussions about how to manage the influencer industry.
The influencer known as "Sanqiange" or "Brother Three Thousand" died shortly after participating in a drinking competition with another influencer. The competition involved consuming Baijiu, a type of Chinese liquor that usually contains between 30% to 60% alcohol.
A friend of Sanqiange, whose real name is Wang, said that Wang participated in an internet competition called "PK" against another influencer on May 16, as reported by CNN. The results were broadcasted live on Wang's Douyin channel.
The "PK" challenges are competitions where influencers compete against each other to gain rewards and gifts from their audience. These one-on-one battles typically come with consequences for the loser, such as drinking Baijiu.
Zhao, the deceased's friend, stated that he did not know how much alcohol the deceased had consumed before he started watching the video.
However, Zhao witnessed the deceased finish three bottles of alcohol and start on a fourth. The drinking games ended around 1:00 a.m., and his family found the deceased at 1:00 p.m. the next day.
Zhao described Wang as an honest and direct individual who habitually recorded himself participating in comparable alcohol-related competitions and sharing them on the application.
A video that seemed to show Wang completing his last challenge became popular on Chinese social media, but it is no longer available to watch.
Call for Regulation of the Live-Streaming Scene
Over the past few years, the live-streaming industry in the country has grown enormously and has become a multibillion-dollar business. Influencers in this industry compete to sell their products on social media platforms in real time.
However, the recent death of Wang has caused concern about the industry's regulation. The authorities have been keeping an eye on the industry due to the extravagant lifestyles of some streamers and the unusual challenges they participate in.
The government of China has imposed restrictions on young people under 16 years of age from tipping streamers and accessing streaming content after 10 p.m. Furthermore, the National Video and Television Administration and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism have also banned 31 misbehaviors by livestreamers.
The tragedy of Wang's death has brought the conversation about regulation in the live-streaming scene to the forefront. Many are calling for stricter rules and monitoring to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.
While some argue that individual responsibility should be prioritized, others believe there needs to be a systemic change in how livestreamers operate and what kind of content they can produce. The rise of social media influencers has blurred the line between entertainment and dangerous stunts, leading many young viewers to attempt risky challenges themselves.
All parties involved - government officials, platform providers, and content creators - must work together to create a safe environment for streamers and viewers alike. While it is important not stifling creativity or innovation in this emerging industry, safety must always come first when it comes to people risking their lives while broadcasting live over social media channels.
