A student at Ping Ding Shan Vocational and Technical College in Henan province in central China, identified as Li Hao, has passed away unexpectedly after an intense period of live streaming video games.
Li, who was in his final year of college, had been contracted by a local media company to stream for a staggering 240 hours over 26 days, in addition to uploading 15 short videos.
This demanding schedule required him to stream for an average of 9.23 hours per day, leaving little time for rest, study, or other activities.
Li’s roommates found him unresponsive in his sleep on November 10th, 2023.
He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead soon after.
While the official cause of death is still pending, the circumstances surrounding his extensive streaming schedule raise serious concerns about worker exploitation and the potential dangers of excessive gaming.
Livestream records obtained by Chinese media outlets confirm that Li had streamed for a gruelling five nights straight before his death.
He reportedly worked from 9pm to 6am each night, leaving him with only a few hours for sleep and other essential activities.
This demanding schedule, combined with the pressure to meet the contractual obligations, likely contributed significantly to Li’s exhaustion and ultimately his death.
The media company, Henan Qinyi Culture and Media Co., has come under fire for its role in Li’s death. Critics argue that the company’s demanding schedule and lack of oversight created an environment where Li’s health and well-being were jeopardised.
The company denies any responsibility for Li’s death, claiming that he was not a formal employee and died in his own rented house during off-hours. However, this claim has been met with scepticism, as Li was clearly working to fulfil the company’s contractual obligations at the time of his death.
A “cooperation agreement” obtained by China Daily newspaper, showed Li was obligated to livestream for 240 hours in 26 days and upload 15 short videos each month to earn a minimum salary of 3,000 yuan. Li had worked the day shift since October but died on the night shift on November 10.
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