Monday, 26 October 2026 Updated 34 min ago
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‘Zero-energy companionship’: bizarre hobby takes seed among China’s stressed young adults

Faced with a stagnant jobs market, many are spurning children or pets in favour of ‘raising bricks’ Chinese young adults looking for a cheaper…

Image accompanying the story: ‘Zero-energy companionship’: bizarre hobby takes seed among China’s stressed young adults
Image: Photograph: xiaohongshu.com · via The Guardian

The Guardian reports: Faced with a stagnant jobs market, many are spurning children or pets in favour of ‘raising bricks’ Chinese young adults looking for a cheaper, low-maintenance alternative to having pets or children have found an answer: raising bricks.

Bricks may not be as cuddly as cats or as life-affirming as human offspring, but they also cost next to nothing.

This world story centres on China.

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Key details

Location
China · Asia
Reported by
The Guardian
First reported
Key names
Chinese
Section
World

Sources

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