After three years of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in China, youth unemployment figures skyrocketed.

 

In fact, the unemployment rate among people aged 16 to 24 broke records in the country, reaching 21.3% in June. In response to this problem, a new phenomenon emerged known as "full-time children," which was labeled on social media as #FullTimeDaughter and #FullTimeSon.

 

Basically, it consists of young adults being hired full-time by their parents to do household chores and be available whenever needed.

 

But how did they come to this? Chinese youth have entered this dynamic due to the obstacles they have faced while trying to find employment or pursue advanced degrees.

 

More than 4000 people have gathered on Douban, a platform similar to IMDb, to discuss the phenomenon of being "full-time children." These people, mainly young individuals, face difficulties in finding employment or advancing in their studies, leading them to live with their parents and depend on them financially.

 

Some see this situation as a way to protect their self-esteem and avoid accepting their unemployment or stagnation. Although some Chinese state media have tried to glorify this trend as an act of "filial piety," experts warn that it can have negative psychological effects, such as self-deprecation and denial of reality.

 

While many people have seen the rise of full-time children as an alternative, others have pointed out that their lives have been affected because Chinese society is very competitive.