People on Reddit have been taken aback by the latest technology being implemented in public restrooms across China.
A video posted by China Insider shows an individual scanning a QR code on a toilet roll dispenser, after which they have to watch a brief advertisement.
Once the ad concludes, a few squares of toilet paper are dispensed.
For those who wish to skip the advertisement, the machine allows users to pay the equivalent of 6 cents.
While the system might seem dystopian, it aims to reduce paper wastage as officials think that individuals often take more paper than necessary when it’s freely available.
Users on Reddit have compared this to the style of the series Black Mirror.
“Black Mirror stuff,” commented one user in response to the news article on the platform.
There were humorous remarks like “Brown Mirror” and “Sometimes yellow mirror” from other users.
However, the discussion soon shifted to a more critical tone, with Redditors expressing their disapproval.
“This would last about 5 seconds in America before it got smashed and the paper was just forcefully taken out,” one person stated.
Another user mentioned, “I would smash it on principle, and I’m pretty sure I have a key on my keyring capable of opening it.”
“I’d bring my own paper and smash the dispenser on principle,” another dissatisfied commenter added.
Notably, there is a cultural aspect that informs this practice.
Many readers aware of the situation noted that free toilet paper is uncommon in China’s public bathrooms.
“I lived in China for 7 years, this is an improvement,” shared one commenter. “The vast majority of public toilets won’t have toilet paper. You carry around a pack yourself.”
According to a tourist review on Trip Advisor and other online traveler tips, carrying your own toilet paper is often advised as it may not be provided.
The reviewer explained, “Toilet paper is not scarce, it is just not supplied in many public toilets. Where to put the paper depends on the sewage system to which the toilet is connected. Not an issue in hotels, modern shopping malls but an issue in older buildings. When required, there is usually a sign telling you to put it in the bin.”
Another person noted that soap might also be absent, saying: “FYI, soap is also generally not provided anywhere except hotels and possibly very nice businesses (…). We learned quickly our first day in China to always carry small packages of tissues (available in any grocery or convenience store) and bottles of hand sanitizer (a bit harder to find in stores, so we always bring it from the USA) everywhere we went.”