China’s Gen Z embrace ‘rat people’ trend amid record unemployment
BEIJING, CHINA — A growing number of young Chinese are proudly calling themselves “rat people,” a term that has gone viral on social media as Gen Z faces record unemployment and burnout.
Instead of chasing jobs in a tough market, many are embracing a slower, reclusive lifestyle, spending days in bed, scrolling on their phones, and avoiding traditional work.
Social media trend gains momentum
Across platforms like Weibo, Douyin, and RedNote, videos of Gen Zers documenting their “rat people” routines have attracted millions of views.
One popular Douyin user, @jiawensishi, recently shared her daily schedule: waking at midday, doomscrolling until 3 p.m., lounging at home, and returning to bed by 8 p.m. “I refuse to feel ashamed of being dependent. I stand for the name of the rat people,” she posted.
Online, others echoed her sentiment. “You’re still too high-energy for me,” one commenter wrote. “I lie on the bed from the time I wake up and go to the toilet until I have to eat, then I get up to eat and then lie back down. I can live like this for a week without going out.”
Another added, “God, I think I am even more of a rat than the blogger. I only eat one meal a day and spend the rest of the time lying down.”
A quiet rebellion against burnout
Experts say the “rat people” phenomenon is more than laziness – it’s a “quiet protest” against burnout, disillusionment, and a punishing job market.
China’s youth unemployment rate has soared, with one in six young people jobless as of February. Many Gen Zers, despite being well-qualified, struggle to find meaningful work and are opting out of the relentless “996” work culture – 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week – that dominated the previous decade.
“This trend is more than Gen Z disengaging, it’s a quiet protest by young people responding to burnout, disillusionment and a job market that feels both punishing and uninviting,” career coach Advita Patel told Fortune.
Some observers see the rise of “rat people” as a sign of widespread pessimism and resignation among China’s youth, who feel that hard work no longer guarantees a better future.
Can Gen Z bounce back?
While the “rat people” lifestyle can offer temporary relief, experts warn it may leave young people feeling even more isolated in the long run.
Psychotherapist Eloise Skinner advises that time out can be helpful as a reset, but recommends using it to rediscover purpose and prepare for future opportunities.
“You are not behind, you are not broken, and you are not alone, but you do need to do the work and make that change,” said career coach Leona Burton.
