"Had a Tough Day at Work"—Instant Replies: The 'Real-Time Response' Service Booming in China

Listening and Responding to Worries in Real Time
The 'Emotional Economy' for Easing Loneliness Nears 600 Trillion Won

In China, so-called 'real-time response counselors'—services that listen to everyday concerns or complaints and offer immediate replies—are gaining tremendous popularity. This trend has emerged as more people are willing to pay for emotional comfort amid the increase in single-person households and loosening social connections.

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Conversation Services Offering 'Immediate Responses' for as Little as 3,000 Won

According to a report by China Central Television (CCTV)'s China National Radio on the 21st, advertisements for services such as 'real-time response counselors', 'listeners', and 'tree holes' are proliferating across major platforms including Douyin and Xiaohongshu. These platforms promote individuals willing to become conversation partners.

These services actively attract young people by highlighting features such as "24-hour availability, immediate replies, and absolutely no judgment or lecturing." The price is considered affordable, ranging from 15 to 35 yuan per hour (about 3,100 to 7,200 won).

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In fact, a user in Henan Province shared that they paid for the service to relieve stress from work and daily life, stating, "You can't expect your friends to always accept all your emotions," and adding, "It's a way to find a safe outlet to talk, even if it means paying money."

Service providers identify their main customer base as students and young people living alone away from their hometowns, explaining that, "Although they have spending power, their limited social circle makes them long for someone to share romantic or daily life stories with."

Loneliness Fuels the 'Emotional Economy'...Surge in Single-Person Households Sets the Stage

This phenomenon is closely linked to the growing trend across China known as the 'emotional economy.' Analysts suggest that young people exhausted by prolonged economic stagnation and intense competition are paying to obtain emotional satisfaction and consolation.

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According to market research firm iiMedia Research, the size of China's 'emotional economy' market is predicted to surge by 16.5% from 2.7185 trillion yuan last year (about 551.1739 trillion won) to 3.1671 trillion yuan this year (about 654.2 trillion won).

In addition, the steep increase in single-person households among young people has also provided fertile ground for such services. Analysis of China's census data by JP Morgan revealed that the proportion of single-person households nearly doubled from 4.4% in 2010 to 8.9% in 2020. Notably, among those aged 25 to 29, the share of single-person households jumped from 5.0% to 12.8% over the same period.

No Special Qualifications Required...Concerns Rise Over Symptom Worsening and Other Side Effects

There are no special government-issued certificates or professional knowledge requirements to become a 'real-time response counselor.' In fact, some practitioners currently active in the market have not formally studied psychology.

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Nevertheless, they stress that "as the name 'real-time responder' suggests, you must not keep the client waiting," using swift response times as a selling point. On the other hand, some practitioners invest significant sums to independently study psychology and enhance their expertise.

As the market for these 'real-time response counselors' expands rapidly, concerns and warnings are also growing. Critics note that people suffering from depression or obsessive-compulsive disorders requiring professional medical treatment or counseling may turn to these unverified listening services, potentially leading to worsening symptoms.

There have also been reports of some service providers using initial casual counseling as a pretext to upsell clients into more expensive paid programs, sparking warnings that users need to be vigilant when using such services.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.