Learning together

Young people are embracing "companion studying" through videos and livestreams, creating supportive online communities that enhance focus and motivation for lifelong learning.

Zhang Qiuyang, from Chengdu, Sichuan province, was once an avid viewer of "study with me" videos. These videos typically feature vloggers setting up their cameras to capture their desks, offering a detailed glimpse into their study routines. Viewers can study alongside the videos, syncing their pace with the vloggers'.

Now in her early 30s, Zhang is part of a growing community of young people embracing the ethos of "lifelong learning".This group includes individuals preparing for postgraduate qualifying exams, civil service exams, and other tests that — if passed — have the potential to reshape their career paths.

Zhang describes herself as someone who struggles with "initiation difficulties". "When I perceive something as difficult — like studying — I become anxious and don't want to start," she explained. "However, watching someone else actively engage in that task through a video helps me realize that it may not be as daunting as I imagined."