"Food Never Arrives, but Dopamine Surge"... Chinese Gen Z Enthralled by South Korea's Fake Delivery App Trend

Noticed as a Stress Relief Trend Among Chinese Youth
Chinese Developer: "Developed After Seeing Explosive Popularity in Korea"

Among China's Generation Z (those born in the late 1990s to early 2010s), so-called "fake delivery applications (apps)"—which cost no money and involve no calorie concerns—have emerged as a new way to relieve stress. This trend first gained popularity in South Korea, and now similar apps are exploding in popularity among young people in China as well.

On September 2, China Media Group reported, "There is a trend among young people to use virtual delivery platforms where users order food and wait, but in reality, it costs nothing and the food never arrives."

Photo to aid in understanding the article. Pixabay.

A Sense of Psychological Satisfaction During the Ordering Process

Delivery driver departure information appearing on fake delivery apps. Baidu, China.

On a fake delivery app, when users add the menu items they crave to their cart and place an order, an image appears on the screen showing a delivery driver departing. However, this is merely a simulation and does not result in any real delivery.

Some users say they feel psychological satisfaction during the ordering process on these fake delivery apps. Since there is no actual payment required, there is no financial burden, and as no food is actually consumed, there are no concerns about gaining weight. Nevertheless, their appetites and desire to shop feel satisfied. However, some have pointed out that after trying the app a few times, interest quickly fades due to a limited menu selection and artificial-looking food images generated by AI.

A user of the app, Ms. Zhang (28), said, "Even if I put milk tea and hot pot into my cart, it doesn't take even five minutes," and added, "Just freely adding food I want to eat makes it feel as if my dopamine is surging."

Ms. Chen (26) also remarked, "The order itself is fake, but the act of ordering gives me satisfaction," adding, "After I order, I tell myself it's no different than having actually eaten." Another user, Ms. Liu, stated, "At first, I thought it was a bit absurd, but after trying it a couple of times, the act of ordering itself really helped relieve my stress." On social networking services (SNS), this phenomenon is being referred to as "cyber stress relief" or "cyber hangover cure."

AI-generated image.

Exactly Replicates the Usual Delivery Platform Experience...Captivating Chinese Youth After South Korea

Fake delivery app virtual feedback information. Baidu China.

These fake delivery apps fully replicate the usual processes of traditional delivery platforms, including menu selection, adding to cart, entering an address, and tracking the delivery driver's location. However, only the seller's name is shown as fictional, and virtual feedback is displayed such as "Total 315 yuan saved," "4,600 kcal less consumed," and "Happiness for free."

The developer, Mr. Chen, stated that he was motivated to develop the app due to its explosive popularity in Korea. He explained, "This is an app for people who want to relieve stress through shopping rather than because they are actually hungry. It helps users reduce unnecessary spending while still maintaining a sense of satisfaction." Not only Mr. Chen but also other developers are reportedly jumping into the development of "fake delivery apps."

However, local market analysts have diagnosed, "This shows a facet of changing consumer and lifestyle concepts in the digital age," but warned, "If users lose interest, the retention rate will decline and the apps' popularity is unlikely to last long."

These fake delivery apps are also popular among young people in South Korea. The Times reported on this phenomenon, stating, "So-called 'dopamine sites,' which allow Korea's Generation Z to enjoy pleasure without concerns about cost, calories, or health, are spreading rapidly."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.