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According to The Guardian, some Chinese young adults are adopting “brick babies” as a cheap, low-maintenance form of companionship. The hobby involves spraying bricks with water several times a day and waiting for moss spores in the atmosphere to settle and grow. A Weibo hashtag related to the trend has drawn more than 5m views.

Participants have portrayed the practice as an alternative to pets, dating or parenthood. One social-media user wrote: “No cats, no dating, I started raising a brick.” Another described a brick as requiring no output, no KPIs and no comparison with others. Chinese commentators have linked the trend to young people seeking low-effort ways to find meaning and a sense of accomplishment.

Some users call the appeal “zero-energy emotional companionship”, saying a brick can offer company without requiring love in return. The trend has emerged as young people increasingly reject traditional expectations including having children and working long hours. Official statistics show that nearly one in five 16- to 24-year-olds, excluding students, are unemployed, while China’s birthrate fell to a record low last year.

The practice has also prompted health warnings. Cultivating moss can contribute to the spread of mould, and some brick owners have reportedly experienced itchy eyes and runny noses. Xuedong Li, a retired moss professor at Beijing’s Capital Normal University, advised keeping mossy bricks in an enclosed environment and wearing disposable gloves and a mask while handling them to reduce spore inhalation and skin contact.