Page 7 - IAV Digital Magazine #614

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Real-life ‘Truman Show’: Man In China Live-streamed 24/7, Becomes Influencer Without Knowing
A man with intellectual dis- abilities living alone in China was unknowingly live-streamed 24/7 by vil- lagers, turning him into an influencer.
Feng Dianwu, 62, widely known as “Brother Min”, lives in a rural village in Cangzhou, northern China’s Hebei province.
Feng, whose vocal cords and cognitive abilities were damaged in his youth by injuries he suffered while defending a friend, lives alone in a small decayed house after both his par- ents died.
He reportedly survives by scavenging, despite receiv- ing a small government subsidy, locals say most of it is stolen by delinquents, leaving him struggling financially.
In 2022, a video filmed by a villager called Erfeng,
showed Feng scavenging cabbages at night, went viral on mainland social media.
In the clip, Feng looks con- fused and mumbles, hold- ing two cabbages stolen from a neighbor.
The video racked up over a million likes, and Feng became an internet sensa- tion for his funny behav- iour.
Soon, Erfeng and other vil- lagers started regularly filming his daily life.
Feng is slow to react and often unaware of people around him. Erfeng would sneak up and suddenly shout his nickname, Brother Min, startling him.
Upset by the scare, some- times Feng would grab a brick to chase the filmer, though he never actually hit anyone except for one time when he accidentally
struck himself.
Feng can manage some daily tasks, so Erfeng and his friends also filmed him making dumplings in his dirty kitchen.
Erfeng launched a “100 yuan (US$14) for eating one dumpling” campaign, drawing in villagers to join in. Feng’s once-quiet home became a lively spot, with him smiling in the videos. Some villagers even pre- tended to be police or judges, scaring Feng with threats of arrest.
Soon, cameras were set up everywhere, from the kitchen to his bed, and even at the local shop.
The videos on social media captured every aspect of Feng’s daily routine, from feeding chickens to buying cigarettes and counting money in his bed.
Most viewers assumed he had no idea he was being watched.
Feng does not have a social media account, but the topics related to Brother Min have racked up more than 700 million views.
Mainland reports say Erfeng and his friends spent most of the money they make to improve Feng’s living conditions.
The exact amount they earned from the online traf- fic has not been disclosed.
Erfeng also treated Feng to beauty treatments, films, and even nightclub outings.
The rise of Brother Min has sparked much attention online, with many compar- ing it to a real-life version of The Truman Show.
In the film, the main char- acter, played by Hollywood actor Jim Carrey, discovers that his entire life is a scripted reality show, with the whole world watching him unknowingly.
One online observer said: “Although Erfeng and the villagers joke with Feng, they respect boundaries.”
However, one person expressed concern: “Feng does not even know he is famous. Have you ever asked if he is OK with being filmed?”
Also, a lawyer said: “As a disabled person, the harassment and surveil- lance could lead to cyber bullying. Local authorities need to consider whether they have neglected their regulatory duties.”
As of writing, Erfeng’s and other major accounts that live-streamed Feng’s life were no longer searchable.
In March, a villager said Feng had been taken by relatives and left Cangzhou, though this has yet to be confirmed. A notice reading, “No one is home” was posted on his door.
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