A Chinese college student died from what is suspected to be exhaustion after live-streaming video games for five consecutive nights.
Li Hao was completing his last year at the Pingdingshan Vocational and Technical College in Henan, situated in the heart of China.
He entered into a contractual arrangement with Henan Yihui Culture Media, a Chinese media company. The terms of the contract required him to live-stream video games for a total of 240 hours over a period of 26 days, in addition to uploading 15 short video clips.
This arrangement was part of an internship he had to complete to fulfill his graduation requirements, scheduled for June 2024. He was to be paid a nominal salary of 3000 yuan for this intensive work, equivalent to about $425.
The demands of the contract implied that he had to livestream for an average of 9.6 hours a day, a schedule that was to be balanced with his academic work and personal life. However, according to records, he streamed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the five days leading up to his death. His father stated that Li was under pressure to work nights in order to get more money.
On the morning of November 10, 2023, his roommates, with whom he shared a rental house in Zhengzhou, found him unresponsive and rapidly breathing while asleep. Emergency services were called, but Li could not be revived.
The Henan Yihui Culture Media representative said that while they did not pressure Li into night shifts, many of their live streamers often struggled with maintaining a work-life balance. The company further clarified that he was not a formal employee or intern but was involved in a “simple cooperation,” which involved providing a location for streaming and taking a commission from his earnings.
Following the tragedy, the media firm extended a 5000 yuan (approximately $555) gesture of compassion to Li’s family. Nevertheless, the company maintained that any additional compensation claims must be legally addressed.
His father is deliberating over his course of action and has yet to decide on taking legal steps against the firm. He mentioned he is looking into insurance claims for compensation and noted the educational institution has provided support and legal advice.