Vincent's parents 'never say he's good enough' - so he turned to a middle-aged couple online
A niche group of content creators called "virtual parents" have become hugely popular among young people.
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Notable Quotes
"My parents are never the ones who tell me not to drive myself too hard or that I am already good enough."
— Vincent Zhang , Other
"From the moment the phone call begins, all my actions and choices are wrong, and something to be corrected by them."
— Vincent Zhang , Other
"I left home for 33 years, and my parents have never said a word of encouragement."
— Pan Huqian , Influencer
"I can understand my parents' difficulties, but I have my own generational trauma too."
— Vincent Zhang , Other
Key People
Pan is a content creator who shares supportive messages as a 'virtual parent' on Douyin.
Vincent is a tech worker from Shanghai who connects with 'virtual parents' online.
Zhang is Pan Huqian's partner in creating content as 'virtual parents' on Douyin.
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All Coverage
A niche group of content creators called "virtual parents" have become hugely popular among young people.
Vincent Zhang, a tech worker in Shanghai, finds solace in virtual parents Pan Huqian and Zhang Xiuping, who offer the support his biological parents don't.
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