In China, the term “baby,” originally exclusive to infants or intimate partners, is now widely used among adults of different ages and relationships. From live stream hosts to strangers on social media, even coffee shop employees, the term “baby” can be heard everywhere. As more adults willingly take on the role of “baby,” what kind of social and psychological states lie behind this trend?
In live streams, hosts commonly refer to their fans as “babies”; on social media, strangers often address each other as “baby.”
The term “baby” is extensively used online. Some netizens point out that “baby” has been overused on the internet, freely used as a form of address between two strangers. “Baby” originally referred to children or was used between people with close relationships; now, people can call each other “baby” or “babe” shortly after meeting.
As some netizens suggest, this cheapens the term “baby,” stripping away its exclusivity and uniqueness. However, this phenomenon reveals that in the fast-paced online community, people crave establishing emotional connections in the simplest and most direct ways, even if these connections are fleeting and virtual.
In addition to linguistic shifts, this trend of “babyfication” also manifests in people’s consumption behaviors and lifestyles. On social media, scenes of young men and women in their twenties and thirties holding cartoon cups, wearing cute cartoon clothing, and eagerly buying anime merchandise and trendy blind boxes have become common. According to Southern Net, many young people today are experiencing an “extended youth,” closely related to the current economic and social environment in China.
Traditionally, adulthood was marked by economic independence, homeownership, and stable careers, which have become increasingly out of reach for many. Faced with a hyper-competitive job market, an uncertain future, risks of unemployment and layoffs, and the uncertainties of modern society, they feel unprecedented anxiety and helplessness. The invisible pressure is suffocating. Reverting to a “baby” role provides them with emotional breathing room.
Against this backdrop, childhood imagery and related products have become temporary havens for many. A cute stuffed toy on a desk serves not only as decoration but also as an “emotional anchor” to cushion anxiety. Young people seeking surprises in card blind boxes may be seeking a hint of controllable joy amidst real-life confusion. These actions are not mere “regressions” but positive efforts to maintain mental health in a high-pressure environment, balancing setbacks and stresses with the security and pure joy evoked by childhood symbols.
According to public information, “regression” refers to when individuals facing setbacks or anxiety abandon more mature adaptive skills or ways, reverting to early-life behavioral patterns in a primitive, childish manner to cope with the current situation and alleviate their anxiety.
The market has astutely picked up on this demand, commodifying childhood symbols on a large scale and creating a vast “healing” consumption market. Consumers are not purchasing items but the carefree, curiosity-filled state of mind these items represent, a form of “compensatory consumption” for reality.
Recent events at universities across mainland China, where freshman orientation parents’ meetings sparked heated discussions among netizens, have once again brought the topic of “adult babying” to the forefront of public opinion. This incident has become another example for many netizens to debate on why Chinese young people seem to never grow up.
On August 26, the Puyuan School of Future Technology at Shanghai Jiao Tong University held a freshmen parents’ meeting for the Class of 2025, with over a hundred parents participating offline or online;
On the same day, the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical College hosted a freshmen parents’ meeting for the undergraduates of the Class of 2025, followed by departmental presentations in 13 classrooms simultaneously.
On the evening of August 30, Tongji University held a meeting with parents and the university president followed by an information session for the Class of 2025 freshmen…
Furthermore, nationwide, relevant colleges at Peking University, Zhejiang University, Sun Yat-sen University, and other universities have also successively held freshmen parents’ meetings this month.
Opponents argue that universities are a crucial stage for young individuals to strive for independence, and deep parental involvement at this time not only reflects a “high schoolization” of universities but also erodes independent personalities. This excessive protection may foster “giant babies,” leaving young people ill-prepared to face challenges in the future.
While temporarily reverting to a “baby” role may offer emotional relief for adults under pressure, real issues such as unemployment, dwindling assets, delayed retirement, and other practical problems remain unavoidable for most people.