U.S. media pays attention to Chinese netizens' discussions about the "killing line"
A report by U.S. magazine "Newsweek" on the 26th titled "The 'Killing Line' Goes Viral in China" noted: On Chinese social media, stories about Americans' financial difficulties spread rapidly through the term "killing line," which describes how many Americans are just one small crisis away from poverty.
The report acknowledged the existence of the "killing line" to some extent. The author cited data from a 2025 report by PNC Bank, stating that approximately 67% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. A survey by the financial services institution Bankrate found that about 59% of Americans cannot afford a $1,000 unexpected expense.
The report states that a Weibo user who has lived in Seattle for a long time wrote that for families with an annual income below $100,000, "life is very difficult unless you don't have to pay rent or mortgage or health insurance." She added, "Most Americans have no buffer; once they lose their job, get sick, or divorce, they quickly fall into crisis."
The report says that the current economic difficulties of Americans have sparked widespread discussion in China because the Chinese have long believed that Americans live richly and that the United States is a model of economic success. The report still tries to defend the United States, saying "China's social security system is still limited" and "not as good as that of the U.S.," but it also has to admit that China has lower housing costs and stronger family support, making the U.S. situation seem more severe by comparison.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1852715112455316/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.