Public restrooms in China are deploying new technology that requires users to scan a QR code on toilet roll dispensers and watch a 30-second advertisement before being allowed a small number of toilet paper squares. This startling innovation, intended to reduce waste, has ignited widespread outrage and discussion online.
The dispenser offers an option to bypass the ad by paying 0.5 RMB (roughly six US cents), but many users view this as an inconvenient and dystopian intrusion into a basic daily need. Videos showing how the system works circulated widely on social media platforms like Reddit, where users dubbed it “Black Mirror” style, highlighting how it evokes scenes from the dark, futuristic TV show.
Criticism has been passionate. Some commenters threatened to vandalize the machines on principle or bring their own paper to avoid being forced to watch ads. Others noted that many public bathrooms in China traditionally do not provide toilet paper at all, expecting visitors to carry their own.
Officials justify the system as necessary to combat excessive, wasteful toilet paper consumption, a documented issue in some public facilities. However, questions arise around accessibility—what happens when a user has no internet connection or their phone battery dies?
This new approach to managing public resources highlights China’s unique strategy toward consumption and control, prompting debate about privacy, convenience, and the evolving nature of public amenities.
