Liu Yexi gained 2.3 million followers just three days after she made her debut on the Chinese short video app Douyin. Liu is a virtual avatar created by Shenzhen Chuangyi Technology and Culture Co Ltd. Her popularity online is a reflection of China’s expanding virtual idol market. The market for virtual idols in China is anticipated to reach $887.3 million in 2021, adding an additional 107 billion yuan to other industries. Eighty percent of followers spend less than 1,000 yuan each month on virtual idols, and around 92.3% of admirers are between the ages of 19 and 30. Analysts predict that improvements in motion capture technology will greatly accelerate their acceptance.
Read more from Chinadaily
