Why Is the ‘Back Wave’ Tag Controversial Among Youths?
On the evening of May 3, one day before China’s Youth Day, well-known actor He Bing made a speech on Bilibili, a video-sharing platform themed around animation and games. The 52-year-old praised the younger generation, especially those born in the 1990s, and expressed his expectations for them.
This short video, titled Back Wave, was later aired on state broadcaster CCTV during prime time, sparking strong reaction and debate. The term back wave refers to the new generation, in contrast to the front wave of previous generations.
Some said they were inspired and encouraged by He’s speech, while others argued that the video only reflects the lives of a small fraction of China’s youth, namely the elite, and neglects the regular majority. Some also blamed the video for endorsing extravagance.
