Stressed young Chinese are 'raising bricks' instead of pets

Young adults in China are turning to 'brick babies', watering ordinary bricks until moss grows on them, as a cheap, low-effort alternative to children or pets amid a stagnant jobs market. A related hashtag has drawn over 5 million views on Weibo. Fans say the hobby offers certainty and accomplishment with no KPIs, a trend dubbed 'zero-energy companionship'.