Making money from... dead people
At the end of September 2021, singer Phi Nhung passed away after contracting Covid-19. When information about the late artist's funeral spread on social media, many YouTubers, TikTokers... began "hunting" for the funeral address.
Just about 1 hour later, more than 10 people were present at the private home of the singer of "Bông điện thoại" in Ward 26, Binh Thanh District to livestream (broadcast live).
YouTube, TikTok, Facebook... are not only places for sharing and connecting individuals but also effective money-making tools.
If exploited properly, these platforms can bring users income from tens to hundreds of millions of dong per month. Users only need a smartphone, the ability to speak simply, can record clips, and livestream on social networks.
Being a YouTuber, TikToker… is really a career worth investing in. The downside is that many "professionals" are taking advantage of sad stories, funerals, and disasters to livestream and make money in a very offensive way.
Many clips filmed at the late artist’s home overnight had hundreds of thousands to millions of views. The next day, the alley leading to Phi Nhung’s funeral was packed with YouTubers pointing their cameras. They filmed anyone who came to pay their respects at the funeral, from fans, relatives to artists.
Many other YouTubers took their phones and walked around nearby alleys looking for locals to ask about the late artist's private life and death.
Mr. Nguyen Van Tung (47 years old, living 200m from singer Phi Nhung's house) said that at that time, there were over 50 YouTubers who came to film the funeral. In addition to broadcasting live the mourners, they also posted many personal stories of the female artist online without the family's permission.
Angry about the incident, singer Phi Nhung's relatives had to ask the police of Ward 26 (Binh Thanh District) to disperse the crowd and invite some people to the ward to work. However, these people did not give up and secretly recorded by going to the coffee shop and the house next door to zoom the camera, post the clip to earn money.
"Funerals are sad events, but YouTubers stand there filming and laughing loudly, creating content that exploits people's pain to make money. It's really offensive," said Mr. Tung.
YouTuber stood and recorded the funeral of artist Vu Linh on Doan Thi Diem street (Photo: Nam Anh).
Similarly, on March 5, the news of artist Vu Linh's death was just announced, about 30 minutes later, the private home of the Cai Luong king on Doan Thi Diem Street (Phu Nhuan District) had more than 20 YouTubers and TikTokers come to record. Every stage of setting up the theater, the burial, and the visitors were all thoroughly livestreamed.
During the funeral, about 200 YouTubers and TikTokers were stationed day and night to record. Doan Thi Diem Street and cafes in the area were always packed with people livestreaming.
Phu Nhuan District police had to be present, stretch ropes along the sidewalks, and ask coffee shops in the area to temporarily close to disperse the YouTubers. However, this measure did not solve the problem because the number of YouTubers from other provinces was increasing.
Five days later, the body of artist Vu Linh was taken to Binh Duong Cemetery for burial, and everything was temporarily over.
At this time, the livestream team continued to flock to the resting place of artist Vu Linh and filmed continuously for 3 months. The process of building the tomb and the people coming to pay their respects were filmed in detail by the Youtuber to earn money.
At the same time, when the late artist Vu Linh's family had conflicts over inheritance, YouTubers and TikTokers had the opportunity to make thousands of clips focusing on the descendants and siblings of the Cai Luong king to make money, which has yet to end.
The YouTuber group even returned to the private home of artist Vu Linh on Doan Thi Diem Street. They stayed there day and night to film clips. Every time the late artist’s descendants appeared outside the door, they were welcomed and filmed by this group.
"I don't know how much money this group made from Vu Linh's death, but I find it disgusting. They still didn't let him go after he died, they followed him around to film him all the time. Even the artist's children and grandchildren were used by this group to get likes and make money. The whole neighborhood became chaotic because of this group," said Ms. Huong (45 years old), who sells water near artist Vu Linh's house.
These are two of many artist funerals that have been surrounded and filmed by YouTubers and TikTokers. Even relatives of deceased artists have gathered to film, despite the pain of the family.
Turning the living into the dead to attract views
Recently, Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuc (40 years old), who claimed to be Venerable Thich Tam Phuc, abbot of Hoang Phap Trung Uong Pagoda in Lang Cat Hamlet, Tan Phu Trung Commune (Cu Chi District), caused a stir in the online community when he wore a monk's robe and entered a bar in Go Vap District.
This image was filmed by some TikTokers and posted on social media, causing outrage and anger among many people. The leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee have directed relevant units to investigate the incident.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuc had his image edited by some YouTubers to spread the news that he was beaten to death for eating dog meat (Photo: Screenshot).
Taking advantage of the public attention he was receiving, some YouTubers immediately edited clips and posted information that Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuc had just been beaten to death in Cu Chi district for eating dog meat.
Some clips showing Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuc being beaten to death while holding a slice of dog meat in his hand; his family holding a funeral and preparing to bury him... attracted more than 300,000 views.
However, through the reporter's verification, there was no story of Mr. Phuc being beaten to death while eating dog meat. At that time, this person was in Thailand and had not returned to the country.
"Even though Mr. Phuc pretended to be a monk and had incorrect words about Buddhism, it is not right to make a clip of him being beaten to death for eating dog meat to attract views. Whether Mr. Phuc's actions are right or wrong will be handled by the law. Those who spread such news will suffer the consequences," said Mr. Tran Thanh Dung (54 years old, living in Cu Chi district).
More than a year ago, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hang (owner of Dai Nam tourist area in Binh Duong) emerged as a social media phenomenon, sought after and filmed by hundreds of YouTubers and TikTokers nationwide.
Ms. Hang's words are considered "as precious as gold" by YouTubers because they always get views when posted on social media. Each of Ms. Hang's talks at Dai Nam tourist area attracts hundreds of YouTubers from all over to come and record.
Notably, during her trip to Bong Lai Monastery in Hoa Khanh Tay Commune, Duc Hoa District (Long An), Ms. Hang was surrounded by YouTubers who screamed as if they had met an idol, causing chaos in a rural area.
When Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hang was arrested by Ho Chi Minh City Police along with 4 accomplices and prosecuted for the crime of "Abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the rights and legitimate interests of organizations and individuals", a large number of YouTubers were present, filming the search of her house in District 3 to make money.
YouTubers and TikTokers surrounded Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hang's car when she arrived at Bong Lai Monastery in Duc Hoa district, Long An (Photo: Cut from clip).
Talking to Dan Tri reporters, some YouTubers shared that although they know that filming funerals is offensive, they still do it because many people are curious and want to watch. The more views, the more money. For controversial topics, they can post information and give sensational titles to deceive viewers to attract views.
No matter how much they are cursed, they do not care.
Part 2: The hidden side of YouTubers earning hundreds of millions of dong per month
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