In a bizarre trend, youth in this country are turning into birds to avoid studying and working

Imagine waking up at 9 AM, only to know you won't clock out until 9 PM, and that's six days a week. Welcome to the "996" work culture, a grueling routine that's all too familiar in China. But in a quirky twist, a growing number of young people are flipping the script on this relentless grind. How? By embracing an unusual trend 每 becoming a bird and, quite literally, flying away from their responsibilities.

Credit: Xiaohongshu

Tired of the rat race, these modern rebels are choosing to spread their wings, escape the monotony, and soar towards a freer, less conventional way of life.

Also read: Young Adults Are Paid Rs 94,000 Per Month To Be 'Full-Time' Children In This Country

Video platforms like TikTok are now teeming with videos of young men and women embracing a new trend: "being a bird."

These videos, reported by Babelfish Asia, show participants tucking their bodies into oversized t-shirts, perching on furniture, flapping their "wings," and even chirping like birds.

Instagram

The trend's appeal lies in its message of freedom from the relentless demands of studying and working.

Many of those joining in are either students who are weary of the rat race and anxious about future job prospects or young professionals disillusioned by the 996 work culture, which demands 72-hour workweeks.

As one user poignantly stated in a video, "I don't want to work, I want to be free like a bird."

Also read: In This Country, Employees Are Growing Bananas At Their Desks To Deal With Workplace Stress

Instagram

This expression of apathy and desire for freedom isn't new among Chinese youth.

In early 2022, the term "bai lan" ("let it rot") became a prominent part of online discourse. Originating from the NBA video game community, where it described the strategy of deliberately losing a match with slim chances of winning, "bai lan" has since come to symbolise a broader pessimism towards Chinese work culture.

In another interesting trend, as China grapples with rising unemployment, young adults are choosing to become "full-time" children. In this arrangement, they receive payment from their parents for undertaking household chores. This trend is seen as a way for young people to navigate the challenging economic circumstances by turning to their families for financial support while contributing to the household.

Brookings Institution

Research indicates that those born in China between 1995 and 2010 are the most pessimistic of any demographic, with over half expressing concerns about their future. This contrasts sharply with earlier generations who experienced significant improvements in their standard of living, especially since the country opened up to foreign investment in 1978.

With unemployment rates in India rising to 8.1% in April 2024, according to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), Indians might just decide to turn into birds too!

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