Youths rely on these items to vent out humorously

Youths rely on these items to vent out humorously

Young people are seeking solace and voicing grievances through items that offer emotional value. Personalized throw pillows featuring loved ones or pets and desktop signs decrying toxic work cultures are among the trendiest products on the online marketplace Taobao this year.

Customized desktop signs printed with stern rebuttals to demanding bosses are highly sought after on the e-commerce platform, according to a list of the ten hottest products released by the company on Monday.

Popular phrases favored by shoppers include: "Why aren't the slides done? The wage is too low." "I think it's legal to take a break.""How can I maintain a good mood while working?"

The company reported that sales of these products have grown by 87 percent year-on-year in 2024. "The sales increase reflects young employees' sense of self-deprecating humor and their positive attitude toward workplace pressure. They are pushing back against work anxiety in a playful manner," the company said.

In the same spirit, pots of green bananas that can be ripened in containers of water on desks have also gained popularity this year. Because "green bananas," or jiao lyu, sound like "anxiety" in Mandarin, the ritual of ripening and shedding their greenness is interpreted as eliminating anxiety.

"Sales of green banana pots have jumped by over 100 times year-on-year," said the company.

Quirky apparel and customized decorative items continue to resonate with online shoppers. Also on the list are the so-called "ugly fish slippers," featuring a sturdy sole shaped like a flabbergasted clownfish, and facekinis — full-face masks with holes for eyes and noses.

Traditional square throw pillows have fallen out of favor among the younger generation, replaced by customized pillows in the shapes of dogs, cats and human figures, often with their images printed on both sides for a striking visual effect.

Customers are also spending money on products related to their favorite intellectual properties, ranging from two-dimensional animations and cartoons to bestselling video games.

"More than 17 million IP-related merchandise items have been sold so far this year, a nearly fivefold increase compared to the same period last year," said the company. "These items satisfy the desire to own badges and cards featuring beloved IP characters, keeping them close at all times."

When the company released a preliminary list of trendiest products earlier this month, some netizens were amused by the "insane "items featured.

"But the list reflects a broader trend among the younger generation. They no longer care about external opinions and prioritize expressing their true selves," said the company. "They are independent and courageous in demonstrating their personalities."