Brick-Raising Hobby Trend Spreads Among Chinese Youth
Facing rising social pressures and unemployment, young adults in China are adopting bricks and growing moss as a zero-energy emotional companionship.
Seeking a low-cost, effortless alternative to having children or pets, young people in China have made brick-raising a hobby. This rapidly spreading trend on social media is regarded as a method for youth to escape societal expectations.
Young adults in China have turned to the trend of raising bricks, which is even more effortless than house plants. In this trend shared on social media platforms, water is sprayed onto bricks a few times a day while waiting for airborne moss spores to grow. Not only cost-free, these bricks are described by their owners as practically immortal.
Reaching millions of views on social media platforms like Weibo and Xiaohongshu, the trend allows young people to capture a sense of achievement without performance pressure and KPIs. Meanwhile, experts warn that growing moss in a damp environment can lead to the spread of mold, recommending that bricks be kept in outdoor environments and that gloves and masks be used.
Sources
- theguardian.com · Link