A call to ban live streaming app which encourages ‘social media prostitution.'

The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been urged to probe into the mobile live streaming application, Bigo Live, and to take immediate action to ban it due to its misuse among younger audiences. 

Due to the easy and immediate access to social media platforms, many are tempted to use these apps to engage in prostitution.

Senator Datuk Mustapa Kamal Mohd Yusoff who raised this issue during the recent Dewan Negara sitting shared that the app was encouraging more younger users to become ‘social media prostitutes’ and had a negative impact on the younger generation, especially schoolchildren. 

He was quoted in local news reports saying that while ”live streaming” did have its positive side of allowing users to promote their business and make new friends, many of these ‘Bigo Live’ users were not using it for the right reasons. 

“What is saddening is when social media users misuse the ”Bigo Live” application to engage in immoral activities which can lead to more serious social problems in future,” he was quoted in Astro Awani.

The Bigo Live account owners have been misusing the application up to the extent where they are willing to show off their body, which is inappropriate for our culture and public viewing, shared Mustapa Kamal told the news outlet, “It is also worrying when their followers began posting indecent comments, demanding more and becoming addicted to the unhealthy and immoral activity,” he added. 

Launched by a Singaporean company Bigo Live is a mobile live streaming community which encourages users to show their talents and meet new people. Users can generate income through ‘gifts’ given by their followers during their live streaming session. 

According to Mustapa Kamal, many have been performing immoral acts as a ‘marketing technique’ to gain more ‘gifts’ from their followers. 

A quick search by MARKETING on ‘Bigo Live Malaysia’ on Google led us to see several results with headlines such as ‘Bigo Live Hot Malaysia’, ‘Bigo Live open bra Malaysia and more as few of the top results.