Young Voices on Retirement Age: A Digital Debate

In late 2024, a suggestion to push back retirement age in China sparked heated talks online. The discussion was especially lively among young people on Zhihu, a popular Q&A platform. This study took a closer look at how these young users reacted to the idea. Over six days, researchers gathered 1, 298 posts. They found five big topics kept coming up. Many worried about age discrimination at work. Others felt stuck between jobs and family duties. There were also concerns about unfairness in pension plans. Some saw reasons behind the policy, but many felt it would cause more problems between generations.The way people talked about it showed different views. Some saw risks and unfairness. Others felt it would hurt people's well-being or cause fights. A few even saw chances in the change. The study shows that young people's opinions matter. They have real worries about how this policy could affect their lives. The findings suggest that those making policies should listen more. They need to think about the different struggles people face. This isn't just about retirement. It's about fairness, health, and support for everyone.