Discussion keeps the world turning.
Digital life is rewiring us.
And now, eating alone isn't lonely anymore.
In fact, some would call it a luxury.
From fast food, solo seats going viral, to the businesses cashing in on our collective quiet,
we explore the rise of the social anxiety economy.
Why is being alone in public the new normal?
We are live from Beijing.
Speaking of, this is Roundtable.
I'm Steve.
Thank you very much for being with us today.
And for the show, I'm with Fei-Fei and Youshan.
First up, in an era dominated by digital connection,
traditional in-person encounters are increasingly a source of unease.
This modern dilemma is embodied by the recent viral popularity of McDonald's solo dining seats here in China,
a phenomenon underscoring the rise of what is being called a social anxiety economy.
Young Chinese are seeking out spaces intentionally designed for personal solitude and minimal social engagement,
signaling a change in cultural attitudes.
What's behind this?
What's driving the normalization of solo dining and how does it mirror our evolving comfort with social interaction or perhaps lack thereof and also in what innovative ways are companies responding to this growing demand