Review rebellion

Do you often check social media for product recommendations from bloggers before making a purchase?

Lately, many young Chinese internet users — tired of constant, glowing endorsements — are embracing a new trend: "bad product reviews".

The trend began on Xiaohongshu (RedNote), a popular Chinese lifestyle platform, when a content creator and her friends posted a humorous video showcasing products they had used in the past.

These items weren't total failures — they worked but came with frustrating flaws that sparked both appreciation and annoyance.

The video quickly went viral, amassing over 460,000 likes and inspiring others to share similar experiences.

These reviews feature everything from toothpaste that whitens teeth but damages oral tissue, to automatic dispensers with malfunctioning sensors that turn convenience into chaos.

At its core, the trend is a pushback against the overly polished, sometimes misleading product promotions that flood social media.

Still, some users worry that brands may exploit this trend by exaggerating minor defects to manufacture controversy or make their ads seem more authentic.

"As consumers struggle to tell the difference between real criticism and marketing tactics, trust in the industry may begin to fade," wrote Cao Wanrong in Hunan Daily. "But ultimately, any efforts to hide product flaws behind flashy promotions will be exposed."