Young people in China are stepping away from the country’s exhausting work culture, while Chinese spy agencies accuse foreign nations of fueling the growing anti-hustle mindset.
Hong Kong — China’s main intelligence agency has warned that foreign groups are influencing young Chinese people to reject hard work and place personal well-being above national goals — a message that has sparked criticism online.
In a video shared last week by the State Security Ministry, a young man dressed in military uniform claimed that overseas anti-China forces are targeting the country’s youth through ideological influence campaigns.
The ministry cautioned young people against falling into what it described as “opinion traps” and criticized the growing “lying flat” trend, which promotes the belief that working hard no longer guarantees success.
The phrase “lying flat” has become increasingly popular among many young Chinese in recent years as economic pressures, fierce competition, and exhausting work expectations continue to rise across the country.
Hong Kong — Authorities in China are warning that foreign influences are encouraging young people to abandon hard work and embrace a more passive lifestyle, as frustration over economic pressures continues to grow.
In a video published last week by the State Security Ministry, a man in military uniform said foreign anti-China groups are attempting to influence the country’s youth through ideological messaging online.
Officials criticized the rise of the “lying flat” movement, a term used by many young Chinese who feel exhausted by intense workplace competition and believe constant hard work no longer guarantees financial security or success.
The phrase is widely believed to have emerged from a 2021 online forum post on Baidu, where a user argued that instead of spending life chasing property ownership and traditional family expectations, people should choose a simpler and less stressful lifestyle.
The idea has resonated with many young people in recent years as China’s economy faces mounting challenges. Despite major advances in technology and artificial intelligence, the country has struggled with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, a prolonged property market downturn, and trade tensions with the United States.
Earlier this year, Beijing announced one of its lowest economic growth targets in decades as weak consumer demand and global uncertainty continue to weigh on the world’s second-largest economy.
The ministry also claimed that foreign governments and organizations have funded influencers and used online platforms to increase social anxiety among Chinese citizens.
Officials said that by spreading negative emotions online, foreign actors are trying to turn individual struggles into wider social resentment among young people in China.
“By manufacturing negative emotions, they attempt to elevate individual hardships into broader group antagonisms, causing young people to be subtly misled and swept along without realizing it,” the statement said.
It added that the aim is to weaken the work ethic of Chinese youth and undermine core social values.
The post, however, quickly drew backlash and ridicule on Chinese social media platforms.
Some users sarcastically questioned why authorities did not name the countries allegedly involved, joking that they would like to contact them directly.
Social media users in China responded with sarcasm and humor to the official warning.
“I’ve been lying flat for so long—why didn’t anyone tell me it was this good sooner?” one post read.
Another user wrote, “Wow, even foreign forces know they have to pay people for work,” a remark that referenced reported cases of salary delays at some companies during periods of economic slowdown.
The reaction highlighted a noticeable gap between official messaging and how many young people interpret the “lying flat” trend.
Ruby Osman, a senior policy adviser on China at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, said the response reflects a mismatch in perspectives.
“For most social media users, ‘lying flat’ is part online joke, part coping mechanism—not something that needs elevating to a matter of national security,” she said.
Social media users in China reacted to the official warning with a mix of sarcasm and humor.
“I’ve been lying flat for so long—why didn’t anyone tell me it was this good sooner?” one post said.
Another user commented, “Wow, even foreign forces know they have to pay people for work,” referring to widely reported instances of salary delays at some companies during economic downturns.
The reactions highlighted a gap between official messaging and how many young people actually interpret the “lying flat” trend.
Ruby Osman, a senior policy adviser on China at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, said the response reflects differing viewpoints.
“For most social media users, ‘lying flat’ is part online joke, part coping mechanism—not something that needs elevating to a matter of national security,” she said.
