ETYMOLOGY

The Slacker Culture phenomenon began with the 2016 viral spread of 'Ge You Slump' memes. Netizens repurposed a 1993 TV scene of actor Ge You sprawled on a couch, adding captions like 'My soul has left this mortal plane' – instantly resonating with overworked youth.

In 2017, NetEase's pop-up 'Depression Tea' shop marked its commercialization, selling beverages named 'You're the Fattest Cappuccino'. This mirrored how Western brands co-opt edgy aesthetics, but with uniquely Chinese cynicism.

Post-2020, it merged with the Lie Flat movement, creating new variations:

Workplace version: 'Trying might not succeed, but not trying is definitely easier'Dating version: 'Singlehood brings peace; relationships drain wallets'This represents Gen-Z's nonviolent resistance to societal pressures. As Douban user 'Salted Fish Can't Flip' puts it: 'We're not giving up – we're refusing to let hustle culture define our worth.' Unlike American slacker stereotypes, this emerges from real struggles with 60-hour work weeks and apartments costing 40x annual salaries.