China's Online Harassment and Economic Hardship Drive Suicides and Shelter in Internet Cafes

In China, 23‑year‑old Zheng Linghua took her own life in December 2022 after a wave of anonymous online attacks on her pink‑dyed hair and personal posts. Her suicide letter cited relentless harassment on social media, and the tragedy spurred a Weibo campaign called PinkUp to combat cyber‑bullying. A similar fate befell streamer Sun Fanbao, who also died by suicide after sustained online abuse.

Meanwhile, a cheap internet café in Kangyi, Shandong province, run by 38‑year‑old Wang Zhongkai, has become a makeshift refuge for unemployed and financially strained workers. Charging only 0.6 RMB per hour for computer use, the venue offers free laundry, low‑cost meals, and assistance in finding temporary jobs. Patrons often stay overnight on gaming chairs and earn modest income by renting game accounts, turning the café into an informal shelter and livelihood hub amid China’s broader economic slowdown.