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Renting an online boyfriend or girlfriend for hours or even months to get some companionship has recently gone viral among some young Chinese netizens, but experts said there could be risks in such relationships.

By paying as little as 20 yuan ($3), one can rent an online friend for half an hour, the Global Times learned form an online store on Taobao, Alibaba's e-commerce platform.

The customer service staff said there are at least five types of "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" one can choose from, with boys ranging from "little fresh meat" to "bossy president" and girls ranging from "cute" and "tender" to "considerate."

Prices range from 20 yuan per hour for the "blind box" to 160 yuan for the "chief" of the store.

Some netizens have shared their experiences of renting a "boyfriend" online. On video-sharing platform Bilibili, one such video has been viewed more than 2.08 million times.

Experts said that renting a friend seems like the two sides have signed a contract to provide normal services like chatting and accompaniment for shopping, but there is a possibility of illegal or even criminal behavior due to the special relationship.

"We suggest that young people face up to their feelings and cherish real relationships. They should avoid being harmed," Xi Peizhi, a teacher with a Shanghai-based law college, was quoted as saying by China Youth Daily.