China, known for its rigorous academic culture and competitive job market, is now witnessing a burgeoning demand for a unique online solution: virtual study supervision and companionship. The rise in such services can be traced back to the pressures Chinese students experience, especially with the unemployment rate among young adults soaring.
Taobao, China’s premier e-commerce platform owned by Alibaba, has become the hotspot for such ventures. Juanwu Studio, a seller specializing in these virtual supervision services, boasts over 1,600 followers and sees hundreds of monthly orders. For a modest sum ranging from 20 yuan (US$2.8) to 128 yuan, students can avail themselves of up to 10 hours of these dedicated online services. Offerings include virtual study companionship through video calls, where attendants actively ensure students maintain their focus and concentration.
Furthermore, Juanwu Studio has expanded its range by selling tickets to an online study room on a video calling application. This room creates a collaborative study environment where students can work alongside their peers. One satisfied customer aptly mentioned, “The online study room offers me a learning experience that studying alone at home just does not provide.”
According to Hu Xueliang, the shop owner, these services predominantly attract mainland university students. These are students who are often engrossed in preparations for postgraduate exams, civil servant tests, and other certifications aimed at enhancing their marketability in a highly competitive job environment.
The recent statistics are telling. The unemployment rate for those aged 16-24 peaked at a worrying 21.3% in June, gradually descending to just below 20% in July. Coupled with this is the surging number of applicants for postgraduate and national civil servant examinations in 2023, tallying up to 4.74 million and 1.52 million, respectively. The academic landscape further intensifies with an anticipated 11.58 million students graduating from universities across China this year.
However, the virtual realm on mainland China has seen a surge in more than just academic-focused services. From offerings that involve scolding individuals to help them move past romantic heartbreaks, to “lend an ear” platforms that offer solace and emotional support, the online service space has become incredibly diverse. There’s even a peculiar “virtual mosquito” service that buzzes customers with descriptive words, a concept that has managed to secure over 200 monthly subscriptions.
Jiang Nan, a virtual service shop proprietor, shared insights with media outlet, The Paper, stating that such services have skyrocketed due to the heightened pressures young Chinese individuals face across academic, professional, and personal fronts. Seeking solace, one client confessed, “When I am having a tough time, I don’t want anyone I know to find out about my embarrassing situation. I also don’t want to cry alone. So I pay for company.”
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