Cuipi nianqingren, which literally translates to "crispy skin youth" or "fragile youth" in English, has been a trending topic on Chinese social media since last year. Many young people have been sharing their experiences of fragile moments online, posting gems like "I was stretching a little and strained my neck" or "I was going downstairs to pick up my food order and my feet cramped up."

The term "crispy skin youth" refers to the current generation of young people, especially college students, who, despite being in the prime of their lives, are surprisingly prone to a host of physical issues. It's a humorous way to highlight how easily they get injured or fall ill. But while self-deprecatingly labeling themselves as "fragile," these youngsters are actually displaying an interest in building healthier lifestyles.

Liu Yishu (www.jxnews.com.cn): Fragility is not a random or accidental phenomenon among young people. In high school, students have to study hard to compete for a place in good universities. After entering college, quite a few students begin to slack off and pay little attention to self-discipline amid a much more relaxed atmosphere. They spend hours, or even days, in the dormitory playing online games, stay up late to watch shows, order takeout with little nutrition, and do little or no physical exercise. This is their way of making up for all the time they had to spend buried in books in high school, but it seems they don't consider the potential consequences of their newfound "indulgence."

While self-deprecating, the hashtag "crispy skin youth" does underline the declining health of today's young people. Students should pay more attention to their health by adopting healthier lifestyles. This includes reducing time spent on mobile phones and engaging in regular physical exercise. 

Hu Sha (www.cnhubei.com): Nowadays, faced with fierce competition for future employment, many college students are struggling under the pressure. Sedentary work, staying up late, frequent fast food consumption, lack of exercise and other unhealthy habits are deteriorating their health. Afflictions typically associated with the elderly, such as spinal disorders, and even cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, are increasingly affecting young people.

As a result, the youth are coming up with creative health practices to prevent becoming fragile. They have started to snack on nutritious health products like goji berries, a nutrient-rich fruit carrying a range of health benefits, and consume beverages such as coffee infused with traditional Chinese medicine.

The term "crispy skin youth" should not be dismissed as mere ridicule. Young people need to diligently assess their physical condition and opt for a healthy lifestyle. For example, they should avoid adopting and continuing bad habits like staying up late, consuming excessive amounts of fast food and not exercising. Instead, they should gain knowledge on health and nutrition.

There's no point in balancing modern indulgences with traditional Chinese medicine health tips if the other bad habits persist. Compensating for staying up late with expensive eye cream is futile. Young people should have a reverence for life. If they feel exhausted, they need to take a break from the intense competition and readjust their lifestyles and study habits to keep up their energy.

The number of fragile college students is reportedly on the rise. Society should pay more attention to this issue, and social and medical practices should be attuned to prevent more young people from becoming fragile.

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon 

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