Cover image via Douyin
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A 7-year-old boy who was looking to lose weight has found himself in a bit of a data-driven predicament
In a video posted on 9 February by his father, surnamed He, the child, nicknamed Tangdou, agrees to a novel fitness challenge: he would skip rope exactly in line with the number of likes the video received.
The boy from China, weighing 45kg and standing 1.32m tall, had initially agreed to a "contract" with his father to lose weight during his winter holiday.
According to China's National Health Commission, a boy his age should ideally weigh between 19kg and 26kg.
To encourage him, He offered his son 10 yuan (RM6) for every 0.5kg lost, while the boy would owe the same amount for any weight gained.
However, the stakes rose when He suggested tying the exercise to social media engagement.
"I am not forcing you. You are willing to skip the rope, right? So if 1,000 likes or even 10,000 likes are received, you will still skip?" the father asked.
Tangdou, perhaps underestimating the power of the Internet, gave a firm "Yes."
By 10 February, the video had exploded, garnering 1.8 million likes. When He broke the news to his son, the 7-year-old was understandably overwhelmed by the sheer scale of his commitment.
"I cannot skip that much. Dad, could you skip for me?" the boy asked.
While some online observers joked about the "merciless" nature of Internet users, He remained committed to the lesson of accountability.
The father stated that he would supervise his son to ensure he continued skipping for his health.
"I also hope my boy understands that one must deliver on his promise," He added.
