Artificial support

Have you ever shared a serious opinion on social media, only to receive no response — or worse, be made fun of?

A new app called SocialAI has emerged to potentially ease such awkward moments and disappointment.

At first glance, SocialAI seems like any other social media platform. You can post tweets, follow others, and gain followers in return. However, the key difference is that you're the only real person on the platform; everyone else you interact with is an AI bot.

You can customize different personas, such as "supporters", "nerds", "skeptics", "visionaries", or "ideators". Thousands of bots will like and comment on each of your tweets, with responses that appear to come from real people.

Sounds great, doesn't it? However, many users have discovered that the bots tend to respond in a standard format, offering comments that lack real depth and are shaped by their assigned personas.

This can make users feel as if they're living in a simulation, much like the setting of the 1998 movie The Truman Show.

The app's creator, Michael Sayman, explained that he developed SocialAI to help people feel heard. "SocialAI is designed to give people a space for reflection, support, and feedback that acts like a close-knit community," he wrote in a tweet.

However, he acknowledged, "I know this app won't solve all of life's problems, but I hope it can be a small tool for others to reflect, to grow, and to feel seen."

Easy outdoor escapes

Is lugging around several kilograms of camping gear or trekking with poles and a rain jacket the only way to enjoy the outdoors? Young people in China are saying otherwise.

A new trend of outdoor activities has recently gained popularity among young people on Chinese social media.

Instead of investing in pricey gear or challenging themselves with mountain hikes, they are choosing to unwind in local parks, soak up the sunshine, or stroll through lively streets — redefining the concept of outdoor leisure as simply stepping outside.

"I'm not fixated on having top-tier equipment or capturing perfect photos; as long as it's cozy, I can appreciate nature anywhere — whether on a hill, on the grass, or at the beach," a netizen shared in a short video of himself relaxing on a park lawn, posted on the Chinese lifestyle-sharing platform Xiaohongshu.

Cycling, once beloved by outdoor enthusiasts, has also seen a shift among Chinese youth. On social media, popular cycling posts highlight a new interpretation of the activity: the joy of cycling isn't tied to expensive equipment.

Many of these posts showcase young people exploring cities on shared bikes rather than riding high-end road bikes or bragging about speed on mountain trails.

"Some aim for great heights, while others find pleasure wandering around a park," one Xiaohongshu user commented.