this post was submitted on 29 May 2025
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Instead of even trying to chase jobs that seem out of reach, Gen Z is embracing living like a rat—not showering or leaving the house for days at a time.

The millennial era of “work hard, play harder” and “girl bossing” has given way to a new trend. In China, at least, Gen Zers are proudly calling themselves “rat people”—they’re spending entire days procrastinating in bed, scrolling on their phones, snoozing and ordering take out.

I think it has something to do with "giving up" on the economy: if you have very low chances of landing a job anyways, why even try?

The article does not directly tell us how many people participate in this movement consciously. It does hint, however:

Today, over 4 million American Gen Zers remain jobless. In China, the government has said that as of February, 1 in 6 young people are unemployed.

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[–] besselj@lemmy.ca 45 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You sure it's not just depression?

[–] tal@lemmy.today 18 points 2 days ago (2 children)

If it is, staying in a dark house and not exercising is definitely not what one wants to do.

[–] protogen420@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 1 day ago

well, depression doesnt make it easy to do those things

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[–] nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago

bitch I'm disabled

[–] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 14 points 1 day ago

It would be so very Warhammer 40k if sheer capitalism warped humanity into the Skaven.

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 48 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The rat seems to be their equivalent totem to the raccoon/opossum

[–] TheReturnOfPEB@reddthat.com 26 points 2 days ago (1 children)

the gutterpunk peoples speak of this as a sign

The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls.

[–] who@feddit.org 30 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)
[–] skisnow@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 day ago

Congrats to the Wikipedia contributor who managed to get “shitposter” into a sentence without it being removed

thanks for that :D

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago

A sudden seemingly coordinated wave of "China is horrible" stories, just as the courts start striking down Trump's 145% tariffs.

Crazy coincidental.

[–] HyalineCat@lemm.ee 18 points 1 day ago

I would too if I didn't have to work full time for affordable health care pouts

[–] Baguette@lemm.ee 13 points 1 day ago (3 children)
[–] renamon_silver@lemmy.wtf 15 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Most of us spend entire nights in bed, we should not judge

[–] moonlight6205@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago

At least they are proud

[–] demizerone@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago

Fuck ya. Go rat people go!

[–] Kowowow@lemmy.ca 25 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Isn't there the japanese thing "lay flat" where it's just about surviving and not excelling in life

[–] askat@programming.dev 11 points 1 day ago

They quit rat race

[–] answersplease77@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago (5 children)

how can you afford staying in bed scrolling on phone and ordering takeouts? rent, electric, phone, gas bills? is it because their boomer parents have one child and pay everything for them even when they grow up?

[–] Stabbitha@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

My guy, gen Z's parents are gen X and millennials, not boomers

[–] gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 day ago

Right on the cusp myself but my parents are boomers and I'm not the only person my age that's true of

[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 11 points 1 day ago

Bingo. Gen Z is still a young adult by definition so the parent's hope is they might land a job somehow. China is a fast moving economy and it's ultra competitive, some people would be inevitably left out.

[–] Jimmycakes@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

They are rats man. They find a way to survive just like....... well.... rats

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[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago (9 children)

So how do they keep a roof, four walls and food?

[–] FoxyFerengi@lemm.ee 34 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Children don't always leave to form new households in China. It's common, especially for unmarried children, to continue to live with their parents after they've grown into adults.

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[–] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 16 points 2 days ago

holy fuck i want to spend days in bed

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today 7 points 1 day ago

Wow! I'm totally a rat person! I do work but I hate doing anything else.

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