  Despite gaining traction in North America, live streaming has not reached the
popularity it has in China, where livestreaming has a tremendous impact on the
social behaviors of users. To better understand this socio-technological
phenomenon, we conducted a mixed methods study of live streaming practices in
China. We present the results of an online survey of 527 live streaming users,
focusing on their broadcasting or viewing practices and the experiences they
find most engaging. We also interviewed 14 active users to explore their
motivations and experiences. Our data revealed the different categories of
content that was broadcasted and how varying aspects of this content engaged
viewers. We also gained insight into the role reward systems and fan group-chat
play in engaging users, while also finding evidence that both viewers and
streamers desire deeper channels and mechanisms for interaction in addition to
the commenting, gifting, and fan groups that are available today.
