Image Source: Visual China

BEIJING, March 4 (TMTPOST) — Li Jun, a delegate to the 5th session of the 13th National People’s Congress has called for a ban on tipping on livestreaming platforms and stricter regulations over the livestreaming industry.

The 5th session of the 13th National People’s Congress, China's top legislature, kicked off on Friday. Delegates from all corners of China and all walks of life will give legislative advice and submit their proposals during the annual week-long session.

Li has been submitting advice on regulating the livestreaming industry in the country for two consecutive years. He especially cares about tipping on livestreaming platforms. “Tipping on livestreaming platforms has created many issues and distorted social values,” Li told Red Star News.

Li said that livestreamers often use vulgar language and overly expose their body to attract attention in their livestream shows. Li believes that livestreaming content such as mukbang has generated negative impact on young people, making them believe that they can make a lot of money by doing very little.

“If doing things like that can make you rich very easily, then many people will think that doing ordinary job is meaningless,” Li said.

Li said that many behavior on livestreaming shows is equivalent to begging. “In the past, beggars compete with each other on their misery,” Li said. “Now on livestreaming shows, livestreamers compete with each other on who wear less.”

Li gave three arguments to prove why the livestreaming industry is problematic. First, Li believes that the content on livestreaming platforms is very random and gets high returns while the cost of violation is low. Second, Li said that it is very difficult to monitor and regulate the content on livestreaming shows given there is no clear boundary. Thirdly, problematic livestreamers can outcompete well-behaved livestreamers when violations are not punished, Li said.