Chinese idol

Unlike other celebrities, idols are promoted through merchandise and endorsements by talent agencies while maintaining a carefully curated public image and social media presence, as well as a strong parasocial connection with a passionate fan base through concerts and meetups.

The Chinese entertainment industry adopted the concept of "idols" from Japan and South Korea, where thousands of teenagers undergo years of training, and only a select few eventually debut in idol groups that generate income for their agencies through the release of musical records, sale of merchandise, brand endorsement deals, and concert revenue.

On January 27, 2017, some members of SNH48 performed on the CCTV New Year's Gala as backup dancers during a segment with Coco Lee and JJ Lin.

These shows feature about a hundred contestants undergoing training, performances, and eliminations through audience votes, culminating in a few debuting as idol band members.

The Cyberspace Administration of China also called for an end to toxic celebrity fandom culture,[14] with a 10-point plan which addresses stopping the spread of "harmful" information, gossip, and scandal within fan groups.