China's Young Internet Stars: Behind the glory of influencers is an industry waiting to mature

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And in this digital era, teenagers in China are increasingly living their lives online. Now, a new type of celebrities have emerged - internet entertainers. Yang Chengxi has the story.

LI WEI DANCER "I have always loved to dance. I record my dance routines and post them online."

Li Wei's dance videos are watched by more than 700 thousand fans on the internet.

YANG CHENGXI SHANGHAI "Reports suggest that less Chinese teenagers are watching TV for entertainment. As about 60 percent of them today have their own smartphones, they're consuming more and more content on mobile video platforms."

Many internet personalities like Li have won the hearts of their young fans by following a different recipe than what shaped the TV-watching generation. Li says it's not about big budget productions or a perfect celebrity persona.

LI WEI DANCER "How much you can relate to youngsters is key. I am not a professional dancer, I am not a star celebrity. I'm just a normal person like everyone else. I think that's part of the reason why people like my content." 

Li Yike makes music with just about anything.

LI YIKE MUSICIAN "It's not like you're on television where people can tell you what to do. You just have to be creative. The quality of life for Chinese people is getting better and better, and with it, our demand for entertainment content is growing. As a result, more and more creators will be happy to join the industry and the content will be much more valued."

Creators make money mainly through brand deals from companies are also increasingly interested in collaborating with rising internet stars.

LI YIKE MUSICIAN "I have to say it's kinda hard to monetize since creators put advertising into their lyrics. That's our only way to please advertisers and make a living off it."

Li says people like him inspire many kids to want to get into internet content creation. And for many young people, that's the dream: turning your hobby into a career. Zhang Qiushi's popular video-game related content has won him 2 million online subscribers.

ZHANG QIUSHI GAMER "Do you play games? Do you play them when you're in school? I can't think of a single person in my classes in college who doesn't play games. I have seen many of my friends doing this to make a living. You know I'm pursuing my college studies. I don't need that much money to sustain my everyday life. So now it can support me pretty well."

But parents and others wonder: could making videos online be a stable and solid career?

ZHANG QIUSHI GAMER "They think this is not a career. I think it is a career that many people can pursue. But I haven't decided yet. I am still trying to study very hard."

Zhang says this is a burgeoning and promising new industry that is just waiting to have a more mature business model.

ZHANG QIUSHI GAMER "For creators like me, they have to go professional. They have to treat this as a job, so the industry can evolve. Also for the industry itself, it needs to have a standardized industry practice such as contracts."

More youngsters figure to join the industry, driven by the passion for this new lifestyle and new economy. But behind the glory and fame, this is a profession no easier than any other. YCX CGTN SHANGHAI.