An American Streamer’s China Op

Millions tuned in to watch American streamer iShowSpeed being wowed by China, provoking speculation about being used as an propaganda pawn.

IShowSpeed is one of the internet’s biggest streamers and he recently took his platform to China, but not for your average vacation. 

Over a span of two weeks Speed provided viewers with a total of 48 hours of live content as he traveled across major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, allowing millions of people to get a real look into what China’s daily life is like. 

When Speed arrived in China, he was treated like a celebrity and Chinese media outlets had their attention completely drawn to his whereabouts. 

The live moments were nonstop and this trip was a content goldmine for Speed. He scored a viral moment when he backflipped on the Great Wall of China, wore traditional Chinese attire, and had dance contests with locals. Speed also visited China’s ‘Silicon Valley’, Shenzhen, and test drove multiple futuristic vehicles including a flying car. 

Everything he did highlighted the wonders of the country’s technology, the clean streets and friendliness of the people. For Speed’s Chinese viewers, his live streams were pure amusement, but for fans in the U.S. it was a legendary first-hand look into modern Chinese culture. 

Besides the entertaining content, eyebrows were raised at the speculation that Speed was either invited or paid by the Chinese government as a part of a PR stunt to improve their global image. His fans believed he was truly being himself throughout his time in China, but others felt his timing and the constant coverage seemed orchestrated. 

Speed’s team denied the accusations and clarified that he paid for all the expenses himself and that he intended the trip to be for growth and cultural learning. 

Regardless of whether or not this trip was politically organized there is no denying Speed’s influence. His 6 hour Shanghai stream reeled in 5.6 million viewers and he has garnered over 40 million views on YouTube across the trip’s episodes. 

This trip blended live streaming, politics, and cultural perception in a way that not many creators have before and helped influence the way we see the world and unintentionally, IShowSpeed became a part of a global narrative.