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@ Samuel Gabriel
2025-05-05 04:25:28
Bed Rotting and “Bǎi Làn”: What China’s Newest Youth Trend Reveals About Its Economic Struggles
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A growing cultural phenomenon among Chinese youth is beginning to grab international attention—“bed rotting.” On the surface, it may seem like just another quirky Gen Z trend. But beneath the blankets lies a powerful statement of social and economic disillusionment.
What Is "Bed Rotting"?
“Bed rotting” refers to the act of intentionally spending long periods in bed—watching videos, scrolling through social media, or simply lying idle. It’s not necessarily about sleep, nor is it always an act of depression. For many, it’s a form of psychological shutdown: an escape from pressure, expectation, and burnout.
Though popularized on Western social media platforms like TikTok, the concept has deeply resonated in China, where it intersects with a broader, more culturally embedded mindset known as “bǎi làn” (摆烂)—literally translated as “let it rot.”
"Bǎi Làn": China's Philosophy of Giving Up
Unlike traditional rebellion, bǎi làn doesn’t involve protest or confrontation. It’s a form of passive resistance. It reflects a silent, internal decision to stop striving in a system perceived as rigged or unwinnable.
This mentality is spreading among Chinese youth who feel trapped by economic stagnation, an unforgiving job market, sky-high housing prices, and a punishing work culture (notoriously referred to as the 996 schedule: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week).
Rather than push themselves to breaking point, many are choosing to disengage altogether—embracing low-effort lifestyles, minimal consumption, and emotional withdrawal.
What This Says About China's Economy
The rise of “bed rotting” and bǎi làn is not just a cultural shift—it’s an economic alarm bell. Here’s what it reveals:
🔻 1. Collapse of Upward Mobility
Young people no longer believe hard work guarantees a better life. With youth unemployment soaring, housing unaffordable, and career prospects limited, a sense of hopelessness is replacing ambition.
🔻 2. Burnout from Exploitative Work Culture
China’s rapid industrial and tech-driven rise came at a high cost: worker exhaustion. The glorification of sacrifice and overwork has produced a backlash. “Letting it rot” is the quiet revolt of a generation that’s tired of being ground down.
🔻 3. Shrinking Consumer Confidence
A disengaged youth means reduced spending, lower household formation, and fewer economic risks taken—like entrepreneurship or family investment. This directly undermines the “dual circulation” model China relies on for growth.
🔻 4. Crisis of Meaning
For decades, China’s Communist-Capitalist hybrid promised material success as the path to national and personal fulfillment. But for millions of young people, that promise has been broken. And with it, trust in the system begins to erode.
A Silent Rebellion
“Bed rotting” and bǎi làn are not merely lazy habits—they are existential responses to an economy that no longer feels fair or rewarding. While Chinese authorities push narratives of discipline and revival, a generation beneath them is quietly stepping out of the game.
The economic consequences may not be immediate, but the cultural shift is undeniable. A society where the youth no longer believe the future is worth striving for faces more than stagnation—it faces internal decay.
If China is to reverse this trend, it will need more than stimulus checks or state slogans. It will need to restore hope—and that starts with rebalancing opportunity, well-being, and the meaning of success.