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China Companionship Economy: In China, people are paying to hire companions to overcome loneliness. This new trend of the companionship economy is becoming increasingly popular among young people.

Loneliness is being overcome by paying money in China.

China Companionship Economy: You've often heard that people go out for walks and talk to family and friends to alleviate loneliness. However, you might be a little surprised to learn that someone is even paying to alleviate loneliness. Yes, paying to alleviate loneliness. A new trend has emerged in China these days, where people are viewing loneliness as a business. They've dubbed it the "companionship economy," which means a company that supports.

In this service, people hire a stranger for a few hours to spend time with them, listen to them, and help them feel less lonely. However, this service doesn't stop there; people also go hiking and go for walks together. In essence, their job is to alleviate each other's loneliness. Let's learn more about it.

How big is this business?

The primary motivation behind this service is the modern lifestyle, which means young people are often away from their families, consumed by work, and worried about their families. The purpose of this service is to provide support and ward off loneliness. While there are no official figures for this companionship economy, state media estimates its value in 2025 to be around 50 billion yuan, or $7.4 billion.

This work is mostly done by students and young gig workers, who promote their services on social media apps like Douyin and Xiaohongshu. This service caters not only to young men and women with work-related problems, but also to those struggling with relationships, health issues, and those facing all kinds of challenges.

The real reason behind loneliness

Experts believe there are several social reasons behind this. China's long-standing youth unemployment is driving many graduates to gig work because they can't find permanent jobs. Another major reason is the one-child family norm in China, which has resulted in many children having no siblings. This has led to a greater prevalence of loneliness. Young people in today's generation are reluctant to share their problems, even with family and friends, leading them to live alone. In such a situation, they find it easier to share their problems with a stranger for a fee. This is why this service is gradually gaining popularity.