From virtual hangouts to spicy hotpot meetups, young people in the Chinese mainland are rewriting the rules of friendship in 2026. Through CGTN's Ask China campaign, we discovered three key trends shaping Gen Z social lives:
1. Screen-to-Table Bonding 📱→🍲
While 78% of social interactions start on apps like WeChat and Douyin, 62% of youth prioritize weekly offline meetups. "We'll DM memes all week, then bond over mala tang at our favorite stall," says Shanghai college student Li Jiawei, 21.
2. Niche Interest Tribes 🎮🥮
From Hanfu cosplay groups to mobile gaming squads, specialized communities are booming. The latest trend? "Boba & Boardgames" cafes where players strategize over milk tea.
3. VR Meetup Revolution 🥽
With 5G-6G hybrid networks now standard, virtual reality social platforms see 3-hour daily usage spikes. "My Beijing crew meets in VR parks weekly – it's like teleportation!" shares digital artist Xiao Ming.
Food remains the ultimate social glue, with hotpot restaurants ranking as top first-date spots. As Chengdu food vlogger Mei Lin puts it: "Shared chopsticks = shared memories." 🥢
