In South Korea there are live stream channels devoted to 'mok-bang' where you simply watch people eat. Using the Korean words for 'eating' and 'broadcast,' this sort of streamable content is becoming increasingly popular.
Afreeca TV is an online video network not unlike YouTube, except it offers people uploading videos virtual currency in the form of Star Balloons. Notable mok-bang 'broadcast jockey' The Diva streams herself eating dinner on a daily basis from 8pm to 9pm local time. Where as some YouTube celebrities have scheduled live stream questions to engage with fans and answer questions, this form of food porn is an all-together different beast. Described by Kotaku as "a seemingly endless parade of delicious food," mok-bang streams like that of The Diva focus less on audience interaction and more on the love of food.
Dinner-Eating Live Streams
The Diva of Afreeca TV Eats Dinner to a Live Audience on a Daily Basis
Trend Themes
1. Mok-bang Trend - Online channels devoted to watching people eat are becoming increasingly popular in South Korea.
2. Virtual Currency Trend - Online video networks, like Afreeca TV, offer users virtual currency rewards for uploading content.
3. Food-porn Trend - Mok-bang streams focus on the love of food rather than audience interaction.
Industry Implications
1. Online Video Networks - Platforms like Afreeca TV offer unique opportunities for content creators to earn virtual currency.
2. Restaurant and Food Industry - Restaurants could partner with mok-bang 'broadcast jockeys' like The Diva to showcase their menus and reach a wider audience.
3. Social Media Marketing Industry - Brands could leverage mok-bang broadcasts to reach a new audience and showcase their food-related products.