Many young people are attracted to the trend because it offers unpredictable and fresh experiences with new people in a fast-changing society.
The name of the trend derives from so-called “blind box” products which are sold in opaque boxes, meaning customers do not know exactly what they are buying.
One enthusiastic participant, Gaibao, said she joined a “blind box socials”event in October 2023 because she could not convince her existing friends to join her in her outdoor adventures.
To her surprise, her approach quickly gathered the attention of hundreds of people, prompting her to create a WeChat group for organising outdoor events with strangers.
The group now has more than 500 members, and in less than six months, they have successfully organised seven “blind box socials”, including hide-and-seek, frisbee and a New Year’s Eve gathering.
Fans of the movement say it reduces traditional social pressures to behave in a certain way and allows participants to be themselves.
The decades of baggage that come with traditional interactions are dispensed with, making conversations easier, as is the fear of making a damaging social faux pas.
Another “blind box socials” devotee is Xiaoao, a new arrival to a city where his primary interactions have been with colleagues.
He told Beijing Youth Daily: “Because everybody involved is a stranger, I don’t have to worry about getting along poorly. If I were interacting with people I know, I would have to consider their feelings, but with strangers, I don’t need to worry so much. We can gather if we want and leave just as freely.”
However, the downside to such gatherings is that they might not turn out the way an individual expected or desired, much like blind box products.
According to Zhang Xiaoyuan, the former dean of the Journalism Department at Sichuan University in southwestern China, any gathering of complete strangers carries risks.
“It is important for organisers and participants to be aware of the risk of being deceived. Engaging in social interactions with strangers might also lead to encounters with fraudsters or malicious individuals,” Zhang said.
Wang Xueren, an event organiser, recounted an incident where a man initially behaved well, bringing homemade snacks to a gathering. However, after consuming too much alcohol, he started harassing female participants.
Gaibao said she attends women-only events if she thinks physical contact is unavoidable for the activity.
The trend has attracted a mixed reaction on mainland social media.
“I am afraid to make such unknown friends in case I wake up the next day without my money, phone, ID, or even my kidneys,” said one online observer.
“Young people are cutting ties with relatives back in their hometowns while engaging in such activities with strangers in the city. It’s so odd,” said another.
However, a third person understood the appeal of the trend and said: “These people are simply tired of socialising with long-time acquaintances and have sought something fresh and thrilling.”
Source: scmp.com
