A strange new toilet paper setup in Chinese public restrooms is making headlines. Visitors now face a machine that requires scanning a QR code and watching a short advertisement before any paper is dispensed. The entire process feels like a surreal scene from science fiction, leaving many to question why such measures are being taken in a bathroom.
The video that brought attention to this system was posted by China Insider. It shows how a person walks up to the dispenser, scans the code, waits through a 30-second commercial, and only then receives a small number of toilet paper sheets. The controlled release is designed to stop people from using too much, but many are not convinced this is the best solution.
For those unwilling to waste time watching commercials, there is another option. The dispenser allows users to skip the ad, but this comes with a cost of about 6 cents. Only after paying the small fee can a person get additional toilet paper immediately. The idea has been criticized as a way of monetizing even the most basic human needs.
This system forces people into a decision: either accept the delay and watch the ad or pay money to avoid it. Social media users have not taken this lightly, with many calling it an outrageous invasion of privacy and convenience.
Local authorities claim the goal is not profit but waste reduction. They argue that in the past, free toilet paper often led to excessive use, with people pulling far more sheets than necessary. By attaching a commercial or small cost, they hope to cut down on unnecessary waste.
While the explanation may make sense from a management perspective, the reaction online suggests most people see it as controlling and uncomfortable. Watching a video before using a toilet feels unsettling to many who read about it.
Almost instantly, people began comparing the system to the dystopian show Black Mirror. One blunt comment online simply read, “Black Mirror stuff.” Others made jokes by renaming the idea “Brown Mirror” or “Sometimes Yellow Mirror,” poking fun at the bizarre concept.
But humor only went so far. The majority of comments turned critical, with users pointing out that bringing advertisements into bathrooms feels like crossing a line. Many believe the idea would never survive outside China, predicting that the machines would be destroyed almost immediately if introduced elsewhere.
Social media reactions grew heated. One commenter wrote that in the United States, the dispenser would be smashed within minutes and the paper taken out by force. Another insisted they would break it out of principle, claiming they already had tools on their keyring to open such machines.
A third critic declared they would never accept it, promising to bring their own toilet paper and destroy the dispenser to make a point. These reactions highlight just how strongly people feel about privacy and autonomy in such personal spaces.
Not everyone agrees with the outrage. Several people familiar with daily life in China reminded others that many public bathrooms there have never provided toilet paper at all. For them, this new system is not a step backward but an improvement.
One person who had lived in China for seven years explained that carrying tissues is normal because most public toilets do not supply paper. To them, even a restricted system with ads is better than nothing.
Travelers on sites like TripAdvisor have also shared similar advice. Many recommend always carrying tissue packs while moving around in China since paper is not guaranteed. In that sense, the machine at least gives an option, even if limited.
A further explanation offered by some readers was that toilet paper availability depends heavily on the sewage system. In modern hotels or shopping malls, there are no issues, and paper is often provided. However, in older buildings, plumbing systems can struggle, so signs may instruct users to dispose of paper in bins instead of flushing.
This shows that the debate is not just about ads but also about infrastructure and long-standing cultural habits. While outsiders see the dispenser as shocking, locals see it as another step in a system that has always required personal preparation.
Some commenters went beyond toilet paper and spoke about hygiene in general.
They warned that soap is often not available in public bathrooms in China, except in hotels or high-end businesses. Because of this, many people carry tissues and even hand sanitizer daily.
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One traveler described how they learned this lesson on their first day in the country. While tissues are easy to find in shops, hand sanitizer was harder to find, so they brought their own from abroad. These details reveal that the conversation is about more than ads; it is also about adjusting to local customs and expectations.
The shocking toilet paper ads have raised a larger debate about how far technology should go in regulating daily habits. Supporters say it encourages responsible use and prevents waste. Critics argue it is an unnecessary intrusion into private moments.
What both sides agree on is that the system has captured worldwide attention. Whether people see it as dystopian or practical, it forces everyone to think about how basic needs are managed and how much control should be handed over to technology.
