TikTok live streams have been popular among creators who want to increase their audience and make more money. Creators have taken different approaches on live streams like playing games or creating a pottery piece. However, some have taken a more scandalous approach – “eating” bowls of bugs and worms.
There are many bizarre things on the internet. Even TikTok’s algorithm cannot escape from them. Many users, mostly out of the United States, are adopting this new tactic to attract viewers. These users lure thousands of viewers just by pretending to eat a spoon full of worms.
Do They Actually Eat The Worms?
These so-called worm eaters don’t seem to actually eat them. These groups of individuals set up their cameras with fairly good lighting. Then place a clear bowl in front of them and fill it with multi-colored bugs and worms. These insects are moving. Yes they are alive. After they start their live stream, they either talk into the camera asking their viewers to send gifts or for a follow.
It’s All About The Gifts
One TikToker even placed a card that asked the viewers to send different values of gifts to the livestreams in return of eating, licking and even putting the worms on his head.
TikTok live streamers who are over the age of 18 have the ability to send and receive gifts. These gifts are represented in forms of different emojis and animations. Viewers can buy these gifts with “coins” and coins can be purchased with money.
Live gifting has become very popular among streamers. By the end of each live stream TikTokers redeem their earnings through the gifts.
TikTok also awards “Diamonds” to live streamers who have higher gift receiving.
As explained by the app itself, “TikTok awards Diamonds to creators based on the popularity of your videos. One way for creators to collect Diamonds is to receive Gifts from followers on your LIVE videos. You may then redeem Diamonds for money, which would trigger an automatic transfer to your designated account. You can see your Diamonds’ potential monetary value in your Settings within the “Balance” tab.”
Viewers React to Their Horrors
There is no denying that there are people who have seen these livestream did not ask for it. People have expressed their opinion on Reddit and Twitter about seeing these live streams. One Reddit user even considered leaving the app because of constantly coming across these types of live streams on TikTok.
Whether you like to see these TikTok live streams or not. They are there and the creators are making some real cash out of it.
Feature image by Johnathan Kemper from UNSPLASH.COM
