In China, an emerging trend has caught the attention of many – the hiring of “temporary children” by lonely individuals seeking companionship. This practice involves paying young people to pose as family members during events such as family gatherings, school meetings, or even just for casual company. The reasons behind this phenomenon vary, with some citing the societal pressure to be surrounded by loved ones, while others mention the desire to avoid pity or judgment from colleagues and friends.
The temporary children, often university students or young adults, offer their services for a fee to act as sons, daughters, or siblings for a specified duration. This arrangement provides a semblance of familial support and helps alleviate the loneliness experienced by the clients. It also allows the hired individuals to earn some money while providing companionship to those in need.
Critics argue that this practice highlights deeper societal issues such as the increasing prevalence of loneliness, especially among the elderly population in China. They suggest that instead of resorting to temporary solutions, efforts should be focused on addressing the root causes of social isolation and providing long-term support to those in need.
Despite the ethical concerns raised by some, the demand for temporary children continues to grow, indicating a need for more open conversations about loneliness and social connections in Chinese society. As the trend gains traction, it raises questions about the impact of modernization, changing family structures, and societal expectations on individuals’ well-being and mental health.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “Why the lonely in China are hiring ‘temporary children'”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.