VOA科学技术2023--Young Chinese Turn to Online Streaming to Earn Money

（单词翻译）

Young Chinese Turn to Online Streaming to Earn Money

Many young Chinese are increasingly turning to online streaming as a way to earn money while selling products for major companies.

The job involves livestreaming on popular social media services in China. A person leading such livestreams is known as a host. The goal is to persuade users to spend money with large brands such as Under Armor, Lancome, YSL Beauty and Hugo Boss.

One such streamer is 28-year-old Zhang Jinyu, a former model who studied fashion in college. She told reporters from Reuters news agency she has already completed hundreds of hours of live streams to publicize products for YSL Beauty and other brands.

Zhang's livestreams can involve her continuously speaking on camera for up to six hours. In addition, the preparation process requires her to do her hair and makeup² and spend time recording³ sales results after her online broadcasts have ended.

Reuters reports that Zhang is one of millions of young Chinese currently facing record youth unemployment of more than 21 percent. Livestreaming sales is one way social media users can earn money without having to get a full-time⁴ job.

"For livestreaming, the threshold to enter the industry is very low,” Zhang said. “I can pick up my phone and I'm livestreaming.” She noted⁵, however, that livestream selling is now very competitive, making it difficult for newcomers to gain a following. "If you can persevere⁶, you can get better and better,” Zhang said.

Zhang is not alone in her desire to make livestream hosting a career. A recent public opinion study asked more than 10,000 young people on China’s social media service Sina Weibo how they feel about the issue. More than 60 percent said they would be interested in working as an internet influencer or livestreaming host.

A study by China-based marketing⁷ agency iResearch found the livestreaming industry employed more than 1.2 million hosts as of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic helped lead livestreaming sales growth that brought in about $480 billion in China last year.

That growth led to a series of agencies being created that aim to train new hosts and connect them with established brands.

Zhang, for example, works with Shanghai-based agency Romomo. The company is a business partner of Buy Quickly, which helps hosts link up with major fashion-centered brands.

Shining Li is vice¹ president of Romomo. She told Reuters she thinks livestreaming is currently “one of the most important methods of communication” for the international brands she works with.

Shi Jianing is a 28-year-old livestreaming host. She says her broadcasts are a good way for her to build lasting⁸ relationships with followers⁹ and increase sales for the brands she represents.

"We're like friends with the consumers," Shi said. She added, “If you can communicate with some personal affinity¹⁰, that builds a kind of trust, and that relationship makes the consumer want to carry out the sale."

Words in This Story

stream – v. to play a presentation, show or movie over the internet

brand – n. a kind of product made by a particular company under a particular name

fashion – n. the business of creating and selling clothes in new styles

threshold – n. the level at which something starts to happen

persevere – v. to continue to try to do something even though it can be difficult

consumer – n. someone who buys or uses goods or services

affinity – n. an attraction to or liking for something