Left: A glimpse of Zhang Qiuyang's desk. Right: The cover of one video from Xiao Zheyue's "Study With Me & My Dog" series. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Zhang Qiuyang, from Chengdu, Sichuan province, was once an avid viewer of "study with me" videos. These videos typically feature vloggers setting up their cameras to capture their desks, offering a detailed glimpse into their study routines. Viewers can study alongside the videos, syncing their pace with the vloggers'.
Now in her early 30s, Zhang is part of a growing community of young people embracing the ethos of "lifelong learning".This group includes individuals preparing for postgraduate qualifying exams, civil service exams, and other tests that — if passed — have the potential to reshape their career paths.
Zhang describes herself as someone who struggles with "initiation difficulties". "When I perceive something as difficult — like studying — I become anxious and don't want to start," she explained. "However, watching someone else actively engage in that task through a video helps me realize that it may not be as daunting as I imagined."
About a year and a half ago, Zhang began creating her own videos in this genre and quickly amassed nearly 30,000 followers on the video-sharing platform Bilibili. Through this process, she discovered even greater benefits.
In her videos, she allocates specific times for each study task and regulates her pace using a timer. "Being on camera adds a certain level of pressure and accountability, compelling me to persist even when I want to give up," Zhang explained. "Once I get used to this heightened level of focus, studying becomes much easier."
Liu Shuxia, a content consumer. [Photo provided to China Daily]
New ways of learning
In addition to "study with me" videos, the rise of the internet and social media has introduced more innovative forms of "companion studying".
Xiao Zheyue, 28, from Zibo, Shandong province, also began by creating "study with me" videos and later took it a step further by livestreaming her study sessions for up to 14 hours a day.
Starting with just around 20 viewers, Xiao now typically has over 100 people watching her livestreams simultaneously. She has noticed that many people genuinely rely on this content to create a productive learning environment — one that provides a sense of security. "By tuning into live study sessions, they actively immerse themselves in a study-focused mindset," she said.
Despite her growing viewership, Xiao prefers not to engage directly with her audience during livestreams, aiming to maintain a balance between intimacy and detachment.
"I usually start a session only when I have an important task or a pressing learning goal for the day," she explained. "For me, it's mainly a way to establish a focused study period without the distractions of my phone."
On Chinese and international platforms like Xiaohongshu, Discord, Reddit, and TikTok, 24-hour online study rooms allow users to join freely, with some channels hosting tens of thousands of people studying together. Zhang has been one of them.
Zhang Qiuyang, a study vlogger. [Photo provided to China Daily]
According to her, these rooms usually discourage chatting, but some participants may turn on their webcams to showcase their study sessions. "You can hear them writing or flipping through books, which makes me feel like I'm in a library," Zhang said.
"Everyone wants a study buddy, but real-life social interactions can sometimes be stressful. On the other side of the webcam are complete strangers, yet we're all doing the same thing — studying and working toward our own goals. You can genuinely feel a sense of companionship without the pressure," Zhang added.
Mutual companionship
Liu Shuxia, from Ulaanqab in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, highly values the emotional support she gains through "companion studying".
The 25-year-old began preparing for her postgraduate entrance exam two years ago. At the time, she felt lost and lonely as her former classmates had moved on to different stages of life, making it difficult to seek their advice or confide in them.
In search of connection, Liu joined Douban's Pre-Exam Anxiety Group, where she interacted with like-minded people and also watched videos by study vloggers.
While watching these videos, Liu paid special attention not only to the vloggers themselves but also to the messages and bullet comments from other viewers, many of whom shared insights and study schedules.
Xiao Zheyue, a study livestreamer. [Photo provided to China Daily]
This sense of camaraderie helped Liu feel a strong connection.
"When you realize that many people around the world are experiencing similar challenges, you understand you are not fighting alone," she said.
Unlike other livestreams or videos, "companion studying" reflects the mutual needs of both content creators and their audience: the focus is not just on the host; fans who check in and leave comments also feel acknowledged, fostering a reciprocal dynamic and a sense of community.
As a content creator, Xiao admits that while her initial motivation for making videos was self-discipline and documenting her life, the participation of her audience has become a source of inspiration, encouraging her to continue learning and filming.
Zhang also finds joy in reading comments and messages from her viewers. Knowing that her videos have helped them through tough times is especially fulfilling.
"Through my videos, both I and the strangers behind the screen have shared significant milestones in life together, which creates a unique bond. They feel like my online neighbors," she said.
