Online literature readership sees sharp increase

Chinese online literature saw an increase of 30 million new registered users in 2024, according to a key report.

These included 120,000 new overseas authors and 500,000 new works created by those authors, which helped its active overseas users reach nearly 200 million, according to the China Online Literature Report 2024, released on Tuesday by the China Writers Association in Yancheng, Jiangsu province.

Meanwhile, the British Library collected another 10 Chinese online novels last year, including Lord of the Mysteries and Women Shenghuo Zai Nanjing (literally We Live in Nanjing), following the 16 titles in 2022.

This progress shows that Chinese online literature is shifting from mere content production toward constructing a globalized IP ecosystem, showcasing new characteristics driven by technology, ecological restructuring, and cultural co-creation, the report says.

Having been published for eight consecutive years since 2017, the report's 2024 edition finds that Chinese online literature reveals a notable shift toward producing high-quality works, with a strong surge in short and medium-length creations.

About 2 million new works were introduced in 2024, a 7 percent increase from the previous year.

Among them, the science fiction genre experienced growth with 180,000 new works, bringing the total to approximately 2.1 million.

Many of these works were recognized with prestigious accolades such as the Galaxy Awards and the Chinese Nebula Awards. By 2024, online literature had 575 million users, making up 51.9 percent of internet users in China, and is the most popular form of literature. The industry sees about 136 million monthly active users.

The age range is diverse: half are aged 26 to 45, nearly a quarter are born after 2000, about 15 percent are aged 45 to 60, and over 10 percent are over 60, with middle-aged readership steadily growing, the report says.

In 2024, major online literature platforms generated around 44 billion yuan ($6.12 billion) in revenue. Approximately 30,000 new adaptation licenses were issued across various categories. Film and TV adaptations saw nearly 300 new licenses, an 18 percent increase from the previous year. Micro-short drama adaptations see the highest growth rate, with over 1,600 new licenses, an 81 percent rise, the report says.

While online literature has achieved significant success, the report also finds that it still faces challenges: issues like homogenized content and vulgar themes; weak IP industry synergy and copyright protection; the need for better international coordination to enhance global competitiveness; the necessity for stronger research and talent development; and concerns about artificial intelligence "replacement anxiety" among mid-tier authors, with unclear copyright ownership in AI-assisted creations.