Rise of the ‘rat people’ and why ‘Zoomers’ zoom out
‘Lying flat’ and escaping to rural regions sparked silent protests about China’s economic malaise
A disillusioned band of twentysomethings are dropping out of the ‘rat race’ in China. Social media has been buzzing with the latest trend affecting a generation that is either struggling to find a job or forced to work 12-hour days, six days a week.
The silent protest first surfaced in 2021 with the “lying flat” or tang ping movement. It described those born in the late 1990s and 2000s who decided “not to strive for their futures” because of the lack of upward mobility and economic stagnation.
Fast forward four years and the “rat people” as they are known spend most of their time in bed while gorging on “delivery fast food” and watching mini series.
“China slang term ‘rat people’ [is] for those who shun success with [posts on social media] attracting two billion views,” The South China Morning Post reported last week.
“[A] low-energy lifestyle choice [is seeing] young people slouch in bed, live on takeaway food, avoid socializing, [and] embrace being a recluse,” the Hong Kong-based media group stated.
‘Rat people’ remain stuck on the bottom rungs of the social ladder.
Bloomberg News
Nibble, nibble:
- The “rat people” phenomenon differs from the “lying flat” outcry or those seeking a quiet existence in the countryside.
- They have literally tuned out and dropped out amid the stress of working life in the People’s Republic of China.
Delve deeper: “Young Chinese identifying as ‘rat people’ lack career ambition [and] remain stuck on the bottom rungs of the social ladder,” Bloomberg News reported.
Between the lines: “The trend follows on [from an earlier culture that rejected] long hours and hard work made famous in places like China’s tech companies,” it said.
Big picture: During the height of the “lying flat” campaign, Chinese state-owned media condemned the movement amid a propaganda blitz. Expect the same this time around.
China Factor comment: Still, it is unclear whether the “rat people” craze is just a passing phase or a broader social statement by Gen Z or Zoomers on the economic malaise.