An increasingly popular market in China for “outsourced children” — services where strangers are hired to provide companionship and care for elderly people living alone — is sparking debate over the lack of regulation and potential legal risks.

Promoted on second-hand trading platforms and social media, the services typically charge 200 to 500 yuan ($28 to $70) for tasks ranging from hospital visits to grocery shopping.

While more than 310 million Chinese were aged 60 or older by the end of 2024, official data show that more than half now live apart from their children. In some major cities and rural areas, the share tops 70%, fueling demand for companionship services.

On the second-hand trading app Xianyu, searches for “outsourced children” return dozens of offers: One promised to be a “temporary child” and provide home care and companionship. Another, from a 35-year-old security professional with a car, offered specialized support for seniors.

In the northeastern city of Dalian, one popular group offering “outsourced children” began with nine friends. Using the pseudonym Peng Lei, the group’s organizer said the team escorted seniors to medical appointments, helped with shopping, and provided companionship.

The group went viral in July after posting a video of themselves visiting nursing homes. Within two months, membership had grown to more than 1,000, with new branches opening in other provinces, according to a report in the state-owned Legal Daily.

Peng stated that most clients found them through social media or referrals from friends and are usually the children of elderly parents living elsewhere. The team signs authorization letters before providing services and charges commissions based on the tasks, ranging from a few hundred to over 1,000 yuan.

“These children aren’t lacking in filial piety – they’re simply constrained by practical circumstances,” Peng was quoted as saying.

On the microblogging platform Weibo, opinions are sharply divided. Supporters see “outsourced children” as a market-driven fix for gaps in elderly care, while critics warn of untrained providers and potential property disputes.

Zhao Jingwu, an associate law professor at Beihang University, told the Legal Daily that the lack of regulation poses risks ranging from fraud to inheritance conflicts. “If the elderly, out of gratitude, make property gifts or draft wills, it could trigger disputes with their children,” he said.

Zhao said authorities should step in with clearer rules and supportive policies to guide the industry, arguing that it could help fill gaps in China’s elderly care system. He suggested limiting untrained practitioners to companionship, while allowing those with medical expertise to provide basic health services.

(Header image: Visuals from VCG and reedited by Sixth Tone)