The Trend of Becoming a Bird in China
To transform into a bird, simply don an oversized T-shirt that envelops your arms and torso. Conceal your legs and allow your hands to protrude like claws, while your empty sleeves flutter like wings. Next, grasp onto any railing you can find and take a playful selfie. Share your creation on social media with a lighthearted, chirpy caption.
This whimsical phenomenon has captivated many young individuals in China, who are adopting the persona of birds as a means to cope with the overwhelming pressures of work, academic responsibilities, and the daunting task of job hunting post-graduation. At a time when the future appears uncertain, taking on the guise of a bird offers a refreshing escape from the burdens of human existence.
“Birds can soar freely and aimlessly across the sky,” expressed Wang Weihan, a 20-year-old finance student based in Shanghai, who embraced the bird trend within the confines of his dorm room. He elaborated that this social media movement encapsulates “the innate desire for freedom that resides within every individual.”
In a society grappling with a sluggish economy, escalating living costs, and alarming youth unemployment rates, birds symbolize a carefree existence. They are not weighed down by the pressures to excel academically or secure employment in a competitive environment where nearly 12 million graduates entered the job market last year alone — a staggering increase of four times since 2004.
Moreover, the concept of being a bird provides a comforting distraction from the anxiety surrounding the potential end of China’s economic boom, which has historically enhanced the quality of life for countless generations. In this context, the act of embodying a bird becomes a poignant metaphor for the longing for freedom and the desire to escape from constraints that many young people feel.
