© Image | Google

A female online celebrity is known for her “sweet and healing voice” shocked tens of thousands of her followers during a routine live broadcast at Chinese live streaming platform Douyu, as a superimposed cartoon which covered her face failed to appear due to a technical glitch. 

She claimed to be 58 years old, but not before many of her fans left derogatory comments on her chat room. 

Many viewers fall for 网红 (Chinese word for an online celebrity). In order to attract followers, 网红 disguise themselves or do outrageous things like eating live frogs and octopus in a live stream.

© Image | Google

“Indoorsman” is the main group of audience of 网红. The live stream provides them a positive and timely interaction with “dreamy women” they imagined. Viewers who spend money on virtual gifts will be noticed by the live streamer and even get feedback from them, which will further stimulate their addiction.  

Those who pledge large sums of money and gifts can feel superior. 

© Image | Google

Curiosity is also behind this phenomenon. When a person or incident becomes a hot topic, people will be curious about his or her background and identity. Clicks on the internet will also generate revenue.

Take the 58-year-old woman as an example. After the technical glitch, she claimed to reveal her true identity was a plan to add fame. 

© Image | Google

Media reported on Tuesday that she began to take advertisements for beauty cameras, and her followers rose from 50,000 to 673,000 overnight.  

She also announced on Tuesday morning that she will launch a music album. 

China Economic Times reported in 2018 that the 网红 market was expected to reach 2 trillion yuan ($300 billion) in 2018. 

© Image | Google

There were 588 million fans for 网红 in China, and 53.9 percent of them are under 25 years old, according to an online report.

Analysts said some 网红 have a negative influence on teenagers, who are not mature enough to tell right from wrong.