China youth share struggles instead of flaunting wealth, embrace ‘comparing misery’

2026-03-03 - 10:06

An increasing number of young people in China have, in recent years, begun to reject the previous generation’s tendency to flaunt wealth and success. Instead, they are embracing a new trend known as “reverse comparison” concerning income and struggles. Rather than pursuing branded or high-end products, Generation Z, who were born around the year 2000, are opting for affordable items and competing with their peers over who can achieve the highest cost-effectiveness with their purchases. Two years...