When Respect Becomes a Service

A Chinese gig‑app that let people pay for someone to bow at Lunar New Year celebrations was shut down after users complained. The service showed a worker in orange, kneeling before an elderly couple, and many people found the idea offensive. Critics said turning filial piety into a paid act hurt the meaning of caring for parents. The app’s owner said it was removed after “careful thought. ” The company still offers a quick‑call greeting service, but the expensive two‑hour bowing package is gone. Customers who had already booked can now receive a refund or extra pay.The app claimed it helped people who live far from family or have trouble moving to keep holiday customs alive. It even suggested that online visits could ease social anxiety during the busy New Year season. Such proxy services are common in China because hiring is cheap and people value convenience. People use the app to find helpers for hospital visits, pet care or standing in long lines. A state newspaper called the bowing idea “awkward” and warned that paying for personal tasks could bring legal problems. The incident comes while the country is worrying about overworked delivery workers, who were praised by President Xi for keeping cities running.