Sun Ensheng's Suspension Sparks Debate on Live Streaming Industry's Responsibility
The孙恩盛停播事件, or Sun Ensheng Suspension Event, has its roots in a high-stakes "PK verification" controversy that erupted on June 28, 2025. This incident involved Sun Ensheng, a popular Chinese live streamer, and several other prominent streamers, including Pippi Zhu, San Jin, and Chen Qiaoqiao. The event sparked widespread debate and led to the platform intervening, resulting in Sun Ensheng's suspension. The high-stakes "PK verification" involved a series of 12-14 rounds of competitions, where the streamers encouraged their fans to make lavish purchases, known as "gifts," to demonstrate their financial prowess. Each round had a minimum threshold of 100,000 points, equivalent to approximately 10,000 yuan (around $1,400 USD). The total transaction volume exceeded 1 million yuan.
30 June 2025
The core controversy surrounding this event revolves around the alleged inducement of irrational consumption and the promotion of distorted values. Critics argue that the streamers' behavior encouraged fans, including minors, to engage in excessive spending, creating a culture of "distorted circle money" and "twisted values." This phenomenon has sparked concerns over the live streaming industry's responsibility to promote healthy values and prevent harm to its users. Sun Ensheng's fans played a significant role in amplifying the controversy, actively promoting the "12-round million-point battle" on multiple platforms and declaring that "ordinary fans voluntarily made purchases, and outsiders should not interfere."
The incident has significant implications for the live streaming industry, highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability, particularly when it comes to advertising and promotions. The lack of effective regulation and oversight can have serious consequences, including misleading consumers and undermining trust in the industry as a whole. The controversy also raises questions about the role of social media and online platforms in promoting and regulating live streaming content, and the need for platforms and regulators to take a more proactive approach to monitoring and regulating content.
The孙恩盛 incident has brought to light a pressing concern in the live streaming industry: the lagging rules and unclear standards that govern online interactions. The sudden ban on孙恩盛's "PK验资局" segment has sparked debate among fans and industry insiders, with many arguing that the punishment was overly harsh. The controversy surrounding this incident highlights the need for clearer guidelines on what constitutes "induced tipping" versus "normal interaction". Instead of imposing blanket bans, platforms should work with hosts to develop optimized solutions that balance compliance with creative freedom.
The suspension of Son Ensheng's live streaming has undoubtedly sent a warning signal to the entire live streaming industry, and this phenomenon has been criticized for its distorted model, which uses intense competition as a gimmick to lure fans into frenzied tipping. To address this issue, the live streaming industry must find a balance between regulation and innovation, implementing stricter guidelines and monitoring systems to detect and prevent such distorted models. This could include setting limits on tip amounts, introducing cooling-off periods for fans, and providing education on responsible consumption.

The industry should also explore innovative solutions to promote healthy and sustainable live streaming practices, such as introducing features that encourage fans to support their favorite anchors through recurring subscriptions or virtual gifts, rather than relying on one-time tips. By striking a balance between regulation and innovation, the live streaming industry can ensure a healthier and more sustainable ecosystem for both anchors and fans, and ultimately prioritize transparency, accountability, and consumer protection to build trust with its users and ensure that it continues to thrive in a responsible and sustainable manner.
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