The news of the death causes sadness 24-year-old influencer from China, who breathed her last while live streaming eating massive amounts of food for ten hours. THE Pan Xiaoting was known to netizens who are familiar with his trend Mukbang. It is a genre of online video, originating in South Korea, in which the presenters eat large amounts of food in front of the camera, while often interacting with their audience. Xiaoting, 24, collapsed on July 14 as her audience watched in shock. Post-mortem results showed her stomach was severely deformed and filled with undigested food, suggesting it may have “exploded”, causing stomach acid and food to leak into her abdomen.
Mukbang started in the late 2000s and early 2010s in South Korea and quickly became popular through platforms like AfreecaTV and later the YouTube. Initially, it was a way for people to feel less lonely by eating with company, albeit digitally.
Presenters often eat massive amounts of food in each video and interact with their audience in real time by answering questions or reading comments. Some viewers find solace in watching others eat as they may feel lonely or trying to manage their own food intake. Mukbang quickly became popular in countries beyond South Korea, with many YouTubers and streamers from around the world adopting the format. The popularity increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many people looked for ways to connect with others while isolated in their homes. Although Mukbang has many fans, it has also faced criticism, mainly due to the potential health effects of eating excessive amounts of food and the messages it can send about eating habits.
Source: www.digitallife.gr
