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‘Zero-energy companionship’: bizarre hobby takes seed among China’s stressed young adults

Published October 26, 2026 5:47 am • Updated October 26, 2026 7:29 am •
‘Zero-energy companionship’: bizarre hobby takes seed among China’s stressed young adults
Photo via The Guardian World

Faced with a stagnant jobs market, many are spurning children or pets in favour of ‘raising bricks’Young adults in China looking for a cheaper, low-maintenance alternative to having children or pets 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. “No cats, no dating, I started raising a…

Faced with a stagnant jobs market, many are spurning children or pets in favour of ‘raising bricks’Young adults in China looking for a cheaper, low-maintenance alternative to having children or pets 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. “No cats, no dating, I started raising a…

Source: The Guardian World — Original report ↗

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Original source: The Guardian World ↗

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