Hong Kong netizen says mother binges AI dramas
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A Hong Kong resident living in Europe said in a Threads post that his mother, aged over 60, became hooked on mainland Chinese AI-generated micro-dramas after encountering them on social media a few months ago . He said she now watches the short-form series for 13 to 15 hours a day, from the moment she wakes up until bedtime, and compared the level of fixation to an addiction . The post drew wide resonance online, with many commenters saying their own parents or older relatives had also become absorbed in similar content . Some users suggested technical ways to reduce exposure, while others argued family members should be cautious about interfering with an older person's chosen form of escapism .
Key Points
- The poster said his mother mainly watches formulaic rise-to-riches plots, including modern and period settings such as poor protagonists suddenly turning wealthy .
- He described the dramas as taking over daily routines, saying she keeps watching while eating out, cooking, doing laundry and even using the toilet .
- According to the post, wearing earphones made the habit worse, with the mother keeping them on almost constantly and only nodding when spoken to .
- The poster said he had repeatedly warned that prolonged immersion in AI dramas could harm health and affect thinking, but his mother ignored him .
- Commenters linked the appeal to anxiety, powerlessness and class insecurity, and suggested slowing home Wi-Fi or marking such videos “not interested” on platforms .
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong families, the discussion points to a growing generational problem around algorithm-driven entertainment that can dominate long stretches of daily life . It also shows how AI-produced, highly repetitive short videos are reaching older viewers through mainstream social platforms, leaving relatives to weigh health concerns against personal autonomy .