Introduction: The loneliness of being hijacked by capital

According to the White Paper on the Global Single Economy, the size of the lonely consumer market will exceed US$4.7 trillion in 2023, of which more than 125 million are “one-person” households in China. When holographic lovers rise in the steam of instant noodles in the middle of the night, and when the meter of the rental boyfriend is accurate to the number of heartbeats per minute, this commercial encirclement against loneliness is reshaping the emotional genes of human beings.

1. Industrial production of cyber lovers
   1.1 AI Companion: The perfect lover written by code

Personality Customization System:

South Korea’s Synthea company provides 32 personality templates (including “sick and delicate schoolgirl” and “domineering president” mode)

China’s “Phantom Love” APP can import the social data of the former to clone the digital clone

Mechanism of addiction:

Trigger the “Insomnia Care” phrase at 3 a.m. (57% increase in paid unlock rate)

The amnestic function charges up to 2999 yuan/time (to prevent users from quitting)

1.2 Virtual idols: love meal replacements that never collapse

Japan hololive data:

Otaku are virtual anchors, spending $423 per month on average

The “marriage certificate” NFT is sold for 2.3 years of basic salary

Emotional Extortion System:

Set the “Intimacy Level” (send a rocket to unlock the private voice)

Development of “electronic pheromones” (simulated in-ear breathing through bone conduction headphones)

2. Substitutes for the flesh: the emotional retail frenzy
   2.1 Rental partner industry chain

Tokyo’s “Boyfriend Fragmentation” Service:

Hand in Hand Walk: 2,000 yen/15 minutes

Pretending to propose: A 30% emotional attrition fee will be added

Beijing “Yun Xiaozi” Market:

When dancing with the elderly, you need to recite the words set by your children

Prohibition of the use of real names (to prevent emotional dependence)

2.2 Smell capitalism

Pheromone Perfume:

Japanese “Love Molecule” Series (With 500 Hormonal Formulas)

China’s “Body Fragrance Blind Box” (Ex-boyfriend/Idol with the same scent is shipped randomly)

Memory Vending Machine:

Enter the keyword “first kiss” to generate a custom fragrance (selling price = minimum wage of the month)

3. The Loneliness Tax: The Ultimate Harvest of Emotional Capitalism
   3.1 Addictive payment model

Heartbreak Insurance:

Match Group launched “Breakup Compensation” (premium = 30% of the length of the relationship×)

The terms of the claim require intimate photographs as proof of emotional authenticity

Renewal anxiety:

AI Companion automatically improves EQ index every month (needs to be renewed to maintain)

Virtual idols set up a “countdown to the out-of-gas” to stimulate rewards

3.2 Data Exploitation System

Emotional Reaper:

The Love APP collects 136 biological data such as pupil dilation/voice tremor

Accurately push high-priced services during the emotional fragile period at night

Lonely Futures Trading:

Wall Street Launches “Solitary Index” Derivatives (Short Human Connection Demand)

4. Anti-Harvest Guide: Rebuilding Real Connections
   4.1 Digital Detox Program

Equipment Modification:

Install a “lonely consumption blocker” on your phone (automatically shut down when you exceed your budget)

Reading love letters with an inkscreen device (physically blocking holographic temptation)

Behavior Training:

15 minutes of “medium-free staring” daily (restoring human visual ability)

Participate in the offline “Slow Social” Workshop (No Electronic Devices)

4.2 Mutual aid network construction

Time Bank:

Redeem a 1-hour walk for cooking lessons

Establishment of a “sentimental liability” liquidation system (to prevent excessive claims)

Anti-Algorithm Community:

Regular “random dinners” (lottery to determine who to eat together)

Development of “Unexpected Encounter” GPS (Shielded Commercial Location Positioning)

Epilogue: Between bits and flesh
When we buy hugs with our annual membership fees and reward virtual goodnight with crypto, perhaps it’s time to reread the warning of The Little Prince – that what really matters is invisible to the eyes. The key to victory or defeat in this war against loneliness lies in whether we can salvage the temperature that belongs to human beings from the cracks in the algorithm.