Weekend Long Read: How China’s Seniors Became Prey for Unscrupulous Livestreamers

Gold bracelets, diamond-studded watches, jade necklaces, and jade rings: These are all recent purchases Shao Qiqi’s 60-year-old father made while watching livestreams.

During the holiday break at the start of this month, Shao and her sister returned to their parents’ home to find a mountain of delivery boxes in their father’s room. It was while clearing out the debris from his shopping sprees that they stumbled upon an array of products, including jewels, health supplements, clothes, medicines, liquor and paintings.