Warning Signs
Xiao Chen is an 11-year-old sixth grader living in Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province. During his summer break, his parents noticed he wasn’t traveling or playing sports and barely left the house. At first, they thought he was just lazy and sleeping in late, so they didn’t worry. But as the behavior continued for days, they started to feel something was off.
When Xiao Chen’s father suddenly checked his son’s phone and tablet, he was shocked to discover something he never imagined. The reason the boy was so sleepy during the day was because he was staying up all night chatting with a female streamer.
Most alarmingly, the 11-year-old and the streamer were discussing adult 18+ topics.
The streamer sent provocative messages and seductive videos, and they exchanged sensitive photos. Before this, the boy had secretly taken money from his parents and donated 10,000 yuan (over 35 million VND) to her without their knowledge.
After regaining their composure, Xiao Chen’s parents reported the case to the police.
The streamer, known as Anchor Zhou, is 41 years old. During her live streams, she uses beauty filters to appear younger and has a sexy figure.
Recently, the People’s Court of Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong, tried the case. The streamer was sentenced to three years in prison for sexually abusing a minor, even though there was no physical contact. Online communities agree that while this kind of explicit chatting online differs from traditional child sexual abuse, the harm it causes is just as serious.
Additionally, the fact that an 11-year-old could access streaming apps and even donate money raises concerns about adult supervision and the need for closer monitoring to prevent such incidents.
Summary
