From televised musical spectaculars to streams of explosions on Periscope, live news and entertainment is available in more varied and accessible forms than ever. But in a multi-channel, multiplatform universe, how do you go about finding an audience for what’s happening right now?

Around 200 million people in China have a live-streaming account. For some, watching others’ daily existence has become a way of life, whether that’s seeing someone eat noodles or witnessing a prankster set his car alight. What’s behind this social media sensation? And why is it so addictive?

Whether it's Snapchat or PewDiePie – the internet is always spewing out hype-shrouded phenomena, often understood exclusively by Gen Z. The latest is Periscope; one in a slew of apps that let users film live-streamed video from their smartphones. Do we really want to watch someone film a video selfie?

If you knew that this was the only chance you’d ever get to read this sentence, would you pay closer attention? Snapchat’s ephemeral messages are a more human way of relating digitally, but they offer more than just a carefree share. Their fleeting nature asks us to stop and pay attention.