Games of death: online anger as family of China student who died after marathon live-stream gaming sessions offered US$700 ‘humanitarian’ payout

A university student in China, Li Hao, tragically died after participating in numerous long gaming sessions online within a short period. Li Hao was attending Ping Ding Shan Vocational and Technical College in Henan province and was completing an internship that involved live-streaming his gaming. He was trying to fulfill his college requirements and earn some money, but things took a turn for the worse. On the day of his death, Li Hao was found to be breathing rapidly while asleep and could not be awakened. Despite efforts to revive him, he did not survive. Li Hao had been engaging in extensive live-streaming, even overnight, just before his death. The company he interned for denied any responsibility, offering a small sum to his family, which sparked public outrage. Online commenters criticized the company for not taking better care of their intern and focusing solely on profit.

Li Hao's father was initially pleased when his son secured the internship in mid-October, which promised a monthly salary for streaming his gaming experiences. However, a month into the job, he was devastated to learn of his son's death. Li Hao had been required to stream for many hours to meet the terms of his employment, which may have contributed to his untimely demise. The company claimed ignorance of his nocturnal activities and suggested that Li Hao was responsible for managing his own time. Nevertheless, the employment contract stipulated a minimum of 240 hours of streaming per month for a base salary, a demand that Li Hao's father believed was excessive. Despite this, the company refused to accept blame and offered a nominal sum as a 'humanitarian concern' gesture, inciting further public ire.

The incident led to a widespread outcry on social media, with many calling for the company's bankruptcy. Commentators accused the company of being eager to share in the profits but quick to distance themselves in the face of adversity. The situation has raised questions about corporate responsibility and the duty of care owed to interns and employees, especially in high-pressure work environments.