The Bird Trend: Young China’s Whimsical Escape from Reality

Embracing the Freedom of Flight: The Bird Trend in China

To transform into a bird, start by pulling an oversized T-shirt over your arms and torso. Conceal your legs beneath the fabric, allowing your hands to protrude like claws while the empty sleeves mimic flapping wings. Now, grip a railing or similar object with your claw-like hands. Capture this whimsical moment with a selfie and share it on social media, accompanied by a chirpy caption.

Recently, a fascinating trend has emerged among young people in China: the act of pretending to be birds. This playful expression serves as a coping mechanism for the myriad pressures they face—be it the demands of work, the challenges of studying, or the daunting task of job hunting post-graduation. In an era where uncertainties loom large, many find solace in temporarily shedding their human identities.

Wang Weihan, a 20-year-old finance student from Shanghai, eloquently articulated the sentiment behind this trend, stating, “Birds can fly free and aimlessly in the sky.” He believes that this social media phenomenon conveys “the innate desire within every person for freedom.”

Birds symbolize liberation, unfettered by the weight of China’s sluggish economy, the escalating cost of living, and the alarming rates of youth unemployment. They exist without the pressures of rigorous academic studies or the relentless pursuit of employment opportunities in a nation where nearly 12 million graduates entered the job market last year—quadrupling the number since 2004.

Moreover, the avian metaphor serves as a poignant reminder of the fears that many young people grapple with today. The once-promising boom years in China, which significantly enhanced the lives of countless generations, seem to be fading into the past. In this context, embracing the essence of a bird offers a whimsical escape and an expression of their yearning for a more carefree existence.