On April 28, China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) published an article claiming that foreign organizations have funded so-called “lying flat influencers” on platforms such as Douyin and Kuaishou to produce short videos promoting messages like “lying flat is justice” and “anti-involution equals anti-exploitation.” The ministry alleged that anti-China forces abroad are amplifying social anxiety online and spreading narratives such as “hard work is pointless” to shape the mindset of Chinese youth (see Chinascope briefing, “China State Security Claims ‘Hostile Forces’ Are Promoting ‘Lying Flat’ Among Youth”).
The statement was met with widespread skepticism. A netizen from Guangdong, surnamed Liu, told Radio Free Asia that young people today are capable of independent thinking and are not easily manipulated. He argued that the deeper issue lies in the lack of a fair and competitive environment, and that attributing youth disengagement to foreign interference underestimates the public’s judgment.
Online, many users questioned the claims and called on the MSS to provide evidence and specific case details. Some linked the rise of the “lying flat” mindset to structural pressures such as high housing costs and limited job opportunities. Others responded with sarcasm, asking for a public list of influencers allegedly receiving foreign funding and the amounts involved.
A former prosecutor from Anhui said he found the framing not merely unconvincing but troubling, warning that labeling lifestyle commentary as a national security issue evokes echoes of the Cultural Revolution. A legal scholar added that “lying flat” reflects genuine and widespread frustration—particularly the difficulty of upward mobility for lower-income groups and a sense of futility after years of economic strain, including high property prices.
Official data show that youth unemployment among those aged 16 to 24 reached 16.9 percent in March, the highest level this year, while some analysts estimate the actual rate could be closer to 34 percent. The MSS has not released detailed evidence or identified any specific organizations in support of its claims.
Source: Radio Free Asia, April 29, 2026
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/zhengzhi/2026/04/29/china-lieflat-nationalsecurity-foreign-forces/