For the previous two months, this 10:00pm sign-on time has been the Yen Bai Province resident’s important supply of revenue.
This has change into Nam’s important job for the previous two months. Initially, Nam livestreamed for one or two hours through the day, fulfilling viewers’ requests to sing, dance, and imitate animal sounds. In return, viewers gave digital items to Nam. The extra ridiculous the request, the larger the worth of the present.
The livestream grew to become more and more common and the requests grew to become harder, equivalent to consuming 10 chili peppers without delay, holding a 20-liter water bottle and squatting 100 instances, or leaping right into a ditch in the course of the evening.
“The longer I stream into the evening, the extra items I obtain. That is why I typically livestream from evening to daybreak,” Nam mentioned.
He earns from just a few hundred thousand to some million dong each day.
“The month-to-month revenue is 2 or 3 times greater than a mean employee’s wage,” Nam continued.
 |
|
Younger woman performs viewer-requested challenges for digital items. Screenshot from Nov. 19, 2023 |
Every single day, Bao Nhi, 22 years previous, a Dong Nai resident, places on make-up like a Japanese anime character and livestreams on TikTok from 9 p.m. On the left nook of the display, she attaches a “worth listing” of actions. For instance, if a viewer provides a rose, she is going to slap her thigh, if a pig is given, Nhi will blow a kiss or shake her butt, if a pet is given, she is going to ruffle her hair or do a handstand.
“I don’t make a lot cash from this job, however it’s sufficient for my residing bills,” the younger woman mentioned.
Hai Nam and Bao Nhi are two examples of the NPC livestream pattern. NPC stands for Non-Playable Character, a personality managed by the pc in video games. When an individual chooses to livestream as an NPC, viewers can management the livestreamer by sending cash and shopping for items. Streamers get 30% of the worth from these items. To extend the quantity or worth of items, many streamers don’t hesitate to carry out unusual, harmful, or provocative, even sensual, actions.
NPC streaming is prospering in lots of Western nations and China, and it started showing in Vietnam in early 2023. A VnExpress survey confirmed that a mean Vietnamese TikTok consumer thinking about viewing NPCs will watch 20-30 NPC livestreams classes like this, primarily made by younger folks, from 10 pm to 4 am each day.
Nguyen Van Tam, a Division of Economics lecturer at Van Lang College in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, mentioned that increasingly more social community customers in Vietnam think about NPC livestreaming their important job. “They’re individuals who should not have capital or enterprise expertise to do on-line gross sales, nor have they got the excellent expertise wanted to be content material creators, equivalent to singing or performing.”
Hai Nam mentioned he likes doing NPC livestreams as a result of it is easy and would not require a level.
Bao Nhi mentioned: “I do it as a result of I noticed different folks made simple cash from it…I used to do it after I had time in my schedule, however now it has change into my important job. I put loads of effort and time into it as a substitute begging for cash.”
Dr. Vu Thu Huong, an academic professional, believes that many NPC livestreamers are making the identical mistake as Bao Nhi.
“Receiving remuneration for creating worthwhile merchandise for society is reliable, completely different from doing meaningless, even ridiculous issues,” Huong mentioned.
 |
|
Man undertakes weight lifting problem in mud subject for TikTok viewer items. Screenshot from Nov. 1, 2023 |
As for why NPC livestreams grew to become common, Dr. Vu Thu Huong raised two factors. One is that society is changing into extra desensitized to nonsensical acts, inflicting actions that must be boycotted to be praised and inspired. Second, the event of social networks makes it simple for younger folks to entry and imitate these acts.
“Exchanging items for cash may also be dangerous and harmful, and will negatively have an effect on those that take part in it, in addition to the area people and society,” Huong mentioned.
As for viewers, specialists say they’re losing money and time on ineffective actions, giving rise to the concept that utilizing cash can management every part. Making large earnings from livestream classes provides younger folks the phantasm that they do not want data or arduous work to nonetheless get pleasure from themselves. Furthermore, individuals who reply to this pattern simply could cross moral and authorized boundaries.
Huong mentioned , as a substitute of ready for accidents to occur, state administration companies have to take preventive measures from the start, not permitting these movies the possibility to go viral.
The NPC livestream pattern has induced a wave of concern in lots of nations as a result of it creates a viewpoint that lowers human worth and dignity. Jenna Drenten, a sociologist at Loyola College of the U.S., has observed that increasingly more individuals are keen to do something to generate profits on social media. “It is on-line begging,” the professional mentioned.
 |
|
Man takes on chilly water pouring problem for a rose present throughout early morning livestream. Screenshot from Oct. 12, 2023 |
In Indonesia, the Ministry of Info and Informatics has repeatedly requested social community service suppliers to dam and delete NPC livestream movies. Tri Rismaharini, Indonesian Inside Minister, known as on the general public to report these movies to authorities and known as for a cease to begging, each in actual life and on social networks.
Hai Nam admitted that each day he needed to pour ice water on his physique at midnight, maintain a water jug and squat 50 instances, leap right into a river, or continuously eat sizzling peppers and uncooked meals, inflicting his well being to say no. Many instances, Nam felt dizzy and nauseous after ending his acts, forcing him to cease the stream.
On different events, he even needed to take just a few days off to get better from consuming an excessive amount of spicy meals, which broken his pores and skin.
“Should you do not create distinctive challenges, viewers will depart and your revenue can even lower. I do know they’re harmful, however I settle for the trade-off,” Nam mentioned.
As for Bao Nhi, performing challenges with sexual undertones induced her to obtain many obscene feedback. Her private accounts had been continuously bombarded by threats and harassments. However she stays undeterred.
“They’re solely on-line bluffs – one thing that may’t cease me from getting cash,” she mentioned.