'I'd talk to the TV': The paid companions bringing warmth to China's lonely

A report examines a distinctive response to loneliness in China: hiring paid companions who can provide warmth and company in the role of temporary children.

Companionship as a paid service

The report focuses on people who are seeking more than a brief interaction. By paying companions, lonely individuals can access a presence that brings comfort and a sense of connection.

The phrase “temporary children” highlights the family-like role these companions are asked to perform. It also points to the emotional need at the center of the arrangement: having someone available to talk to and share time with.

A glimpse into changing social needs

The practice draws attention to loneliness as a social issue and to the ways people are looking for support outside traditional family relationships. The report presents these paid relationships as an attempt to bring human warmth to people who feel alone.

It offers a window into a form of companionship shaped by changing personal needs, while leaving the experiences of those involved at the heart of the story.