@hingehead,
Could be. To my mind, it's worrisome that lots of Chinese girls simply set great store by the idea that money is everything, not true love. Other than that, they even belittle the perception that knowledge is power, thinking that being celebrities is a better choice. That's why the so-called 读书无用论-it means it's useless to read books in English-has gained contraction among the young in China.
The advent of TikTok or Youtube's knockoffs in China, say, Youku and Bibibi, simply gives them a chance to get famous quickly and make bumper financial gains. As a result, some Chinese youngsters would prefer to be online sales reps hawking beauty or skin-care products just like Li Jiaqi or 李佳琦 in Chinese, who has become the most popular beauty vlogger and salesman flogging lipsticks online, despite being a man. Local authorities in Shanghai even call him a special talent.
That's a departure from conventional wisdom in China and the long-held view that argues 万般皆下品,唯有读书高-it means reading books takes precedence over other things in English.
In my book, nefarious theories like 读书无用论 and the proliferation of materialism in China, if anything, are going to imperil China's efforts to restore its greatness.
Anyway, maybe it's time for me to sell lipsticks online as well if I want to be a special talent.