Online celebrity course in Chongqing stirs debate

A course showing students how to be an online celebrity is causing controversy in China, reports Beijing Youth.

Offered by the Chongqing Engineering College, it teaches students how to make live streaming video, and become an internet celebrity.

The organizers say existing celebrities will be invited to give training on practical skills such as 'devising live topics' and 'appealing for online gifts.' They say they have been in contact with many different live video platforms which can provide students with abundant opportunities to become online celebrities.

The existing celebrities give training on practical skills. [Photo: sohu.com]

In recent years, along with the rapid development of the internet industry in China, the phenomenon of being an "Online Celebrity" has captured the imagination, with some seeing it as an easy way to become rich and famous.

One teacher at the college, surnamed Zhang, pointed out that the 'Online Celebrity College' was not an independent college or a specific major of the school, but a cooperation project between the college and an enterprise, aiming to cultivate talents in 'Online Celebrity' field.

The signing ceremony between the college and an enterprise. [Photo: kaixian.tv]

Li Shan, one of the first batch of students taking the three-month course on the advice of her teacher said, " The cost of the course is paid by school, and we have the chance to sign up with the company and become 'Online Celebrities' after graduation, I think it's a good way to gain fame".

Views of the course are not all positive. One educational expert said, "It's not a wise decision for the university to open an 'Online Celebrity Course', as the phenomenon of 'Online Celebrity' is still so new, untried and untested,' pointing out that students should develop a critical understanding of "Online Celebrity".

The educational expert, Chu Zhaohui noted, "Whether 'Online Celebrity' can develop into a profession or not, only time will tell".