"Lying Flat" Movement in China: State Security Accuses Overseas Groups of "Brainwashing"
Quick Look
- China's Ministry of State Security claims overseas groups are funding influencers to promote "lying flat" to hinder national development.
- However, social media users attribute their fatigue to domestic issues, not foreign influence.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The "lying flat" movement, initially a niche subculture, has become a mainstream phenomenon in China over the past five years, reflecting a broader societal fatigue with intense competition and diminishing returns.
Once a niche subculture, “lying flat” has evolved into a mainstream phenomenon over the past five years.
But now, it applies to a broader cross-section of society – from successful professionals and middle-aged entrepreneurs to risk-averse officials – as they avoid extra work to survive an era of intense competition with diminishing returns.
In a social media post, the Ministry of State Security accused unnamed overseas groups of funding influencers to constrain China’s development by conducting “lying flat brainwashing”.
While the intelligence agency blamed external enemies, a flood of social media comments showed how many users felt their fatigue was actually home-grown.
“So my exhaustion isn’t from overwork – it was the CIA all along,” one user wrote.
Open Questions
- What specific overseas groups are being accused?
- What evidence supports the brainwashing claim?
- What are the government's next steps?
