this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2025
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cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/38101225

Imagine this: you walk into a public restroom in China, but instead of just grabbing toilet paper… you have to scan a QR code and watch an ad first 😅. Only then will the machine dispense a tiny sheet of tissue. Don’t feel like watching? You can also pay 0.5 RMB (about $0.07) for a bit more paper 💸. This system is designed to cut down waste — some people would abuse free paper before. Now, it’s all about “watch an ad or pay a coin.” Would you sit through an ad for free toilet paper, or just drop the 0.5 yuan? 👀 . . .

Source: China Insider on Instagram.

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[–] Geodad@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

I do NOT touch my phone after I start wiping.

I guess there would just be shit smeared on the walls of that stall.

[–] oyo@lemmy.zip 9 points 1 day ago

Waiting for .ml to tell me how this was all part of Mao's plan.

[–] friend_of_satan@lemmy.world 116 points 2 days ago (7 children)

This is a whole new level of enshitification.

[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Yeah, I'd be carrying some kind of tool to rip that fucker open.

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[–] viking@infosec.pub 26 points 1 day ago (1 children)

As someone who lived in China for 7 years, the alternative is that the next best person who enters the bathroom takes all available paper home.

In my entire time there, I can count the number of times where paper was available on a single hand, with spare fingers.

Naturally, everybody carries a box of tissues at all times.

[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I've been told that China is so prosperous, why would there be no toilet paper‽

[–] viking@infosec.pub 8 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

China is prosperous, don't let anybody fool you. But people are deeply, inherently selfish and love money more than everything (yay, communism!), so if they can save 30 cents by taking a roll of toilet paper home, they will.

[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world 3 points 14 hours ago

Yes, certain people in China are prosperous no doubt

[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Lmao if someone tried this shit in the US all the dispensors would be kicked off the walls by the end of the day.

[–] Texas_Hangover@lemmy.radio 9 points 1 day ago

Either that, or I will find something else to wipe my ass on. It's lose-lose for everybody really.

[–] FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

China is a whole other world than western countries. Having access to toilet paper, even paid access, in a public restroom is not common.

[–] kami@lemmy.dbzer0.com 53 points 2 days ago

Boring dystopia

[–] morphballganon@mtgzone.com 18 points 1 day ago (4 children)

If their goal is to convince people to not wipe at all, this method will have some non-zero percent of success.

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[–] ironhydroxide@sh.itjust.works 45 points 2 days ago

Or scrape my ass across their damned dispenser.

Fuck that noise.

[–] kikutwo@lemmy.world 36 points 2 days ago (9 children)

How is this any different than Germany where oftentimes the entrance itself is behind a paywall?

[–] es_eskaliert@feddit.org 37 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Dropping in a coin vs what seems to be downloading some sort of an app or at least opening some shady websites on your fucking phone over your fucking mobile data is where I see it. Even if you used the payment option, you'd have to disclose your online payment information to the provider. Privacy nightmare.

[–] es_eskaliert@feddit.org 8 points 2 days ago

Or simply imagine you just took your most violent shit of the century and then have an ad for hot mexican food or something.

[–] ptmb@piefed.zip 21 points 2 days ago (3 children)

The entrance being behind a paywall is bad, but if you're not aware of it before using the toilet this holds you hostage unable to get clean until you pay up, with either your money or your attention. I'd say this is a more evil design, even though both are evil.

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[–] Fermion@mander.xyz 18 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Germany doesn't get everything right.

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[–] NotKyloRen@lemmy.zip 11 points 2 days ago

In Germany you're paying to access the bathroom, not the "privilege" of wiping your ass

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[–] hddsx@lemmy.ca 27 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Bring your own toilet paper?

Also China public bathrooms smell like absolute crap I have no idea why. I had to pee in China and walked into a public bathroom on the side of the road. I almost puked

[–] CubitOom@infosec.pub 19 points 2 days ago

Yeah, most people in china already bring their own. The only time I've ever seen it offered for free was in a crazy high end shopping mall.

[–] perishthethought@piefed.social 19 points 2 days ago (5 children)

Many are just 'squatty potties' - is a hole in the floor and a tank below.

And yah, tourists are told to bring TP already since some bathrooms don't have any.

😶

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[–] ryan_@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago (2 children)
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[–] mikedd@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Watch the black mirror episode Fifteen Million Merits. Your walls are ads unless you pay, can't even close your eyes.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifteen_Million_Merits

[–] mikedd@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Oh I definitely know that episode! It’s one of the scariest ones for me. And here we are not that may years after it aired with this already starting to become a reality. :(

[–] Alloi@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago (8 children)

how "capitalistic" of the "communists" lol.

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

He who does not work, shall not wipe.

- Владимир Ленин

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[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 1 day ago

Oh ok flushes baby wipes.

[–] WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today 2 points 1 day ago

This is why I don't eat in Restoraunts (besides the fact that I'm always broke).

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@thelemmy.club 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Basically almost a literal shitpost.

I don't like the ewaste tho.

[–] Quilotoa@lemmy.ca 11 points 2 days ago

Many countries have pay per use public restrooms. Sometimes there's someone sitting outside handing out toilet paper after you pay. Sometimes it a coin insert turnstile. Us oldsters call them Johnny Cash.

[–] Fedditor385@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Just shit right under it on the floor to show your disagreement.

[–] Pro@programming.dev 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Dear Citizen, you just lost 1000 points, for shitting on the floor.

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