Oversight call as lonely youths try 鈥榲irtual partners鈥
Print Edition
Chen Xin has fallen in love for the first time and chats with her 鈥渂oyfriend鈥 almost every day on the instant messaging service WeChat.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 meet or go on dates, but whenever I need company, he is there to chat and provide emotional support, which soothes my mind,鈥 said Chen, 26.
Chen works for a Beijing-based Internet company and lives alone. A fast-paced lifestyle has led to significant pressure. She learned about 鈥渧irtual partners鈥 by chance and decided to give it a try, spending less than 100 yuan (US$16) an hour for 鈥渆xclusive chats.鈥
鈥淰irtual partners鈥 originated in Japan and provide paid socializing services. A customer pays a certain sum for timed companionship services, where a companion will establish a temporary relationship with the customer. Services include chatting, playing online games, making wake-up calls and helping the customer get to sleep.
The virtual services have gained prominence in China as today is May 20, or 鈥520.鈥 The pronunciation of 鈥520鈥 is similar to 鈥淚 love you鈥 in Chinese.
As Chen chatted more with her 鈥渂oyfriend,鈥 she began to confide in him. He listened to all her annoyances attentively, and comforted and encouraged her. 鈥淚 felt so relaxed after getting everything off my chest.鈥
Like Chen, many young people have turned to such services to relieve loneliness. China is home to 240 million singles, 77 million of whom live alone, official figures show.
Wang Ming, 31, is a taxi driver. He is a fan of online games and recently paid money to find someone to play these games with him. 鈥淚 have someone to talk with when playing online games. When you have a bad day, you can tell them,鈥 he said.
Compared with talking with acquaintances, he prefers a 鈥渃hatty and funny stranger,鈥 saying he feels more 鈥渁t ease.鈥
The new 鈥渃ompanionship economy鈥 can help relieve pressure and anxiety among young people to some extent, said Yang Suchang, a professor with the school of economics at Lanzhou University.
Others have reservations.
Ding Hao, director of the center against telecommunications fraud of Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, said that without proper supervision, such services could become a hotbed for pornography and fraud.
Fu Linlin, 30, once encountered online fraud. 鈥淗e talked sweet to me every day, and I gave tens of thousands of yuan to him via the Internet,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ut he grew more and more distant and delayed his replies after two months of our 鈥榬elationship.鈥欌
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