Meet China’s ‘rat people’ who burrow in bed to avoid stresses of life
CNN · Current
CNN
Current
In response to slow economic growth in the last few years, some young people in China have taken to social media to become a so-called “rat person.” Over 1 billion people have watched videos on China’s TikTok equivalent social media app, Douyin, about the rodent-like lifestyle, which includes burrowing in bed, scrolling social media, and ordering delivery meals to avoid outside pressures.
Breakdown
- The 'rat people' trend involves young people spending most of their time in bed, minimizing activity and expenses.
- The trend has become highly popular on Chinese social media, with related topics exceeding 2 billion views. 1m 2s
- This lifestyle is seen as a reaction to intense social, academic, and professional pressures in China. 2m 20s
- Similar trends like 'lying flat' and 'Buddhist style' have previously emerged among Chinese youth. 1m 54s
- Many young people feel limited in their prospects for upward mobility and economic improvement. 2m 46s