China's Social Credit Nightmare: Tens of Thousands of Youth Homeless & Blacklisted



This story is buzzing on social media platforms like X and Facebook, with posts claiming "tens of thousands" of young Chinese are becoming homeless after being blacklisted by the Social Credit System for debts or non-compliance. However, no credible news outlets or official reports confirm this exact figure tied to homelessness. The Social Credit System, often overhyped as an all-seeing score, is a fragmented set of blacklists mainly targeting debtors—barring them from high-speed trains, flights, loans, and jobs. Estimates suggest 20-30 million people (not just youth) are on these lists as of recent years, up from 32,000 in 2013, mostly for unpaid debts.

Young Chinese do face real hardships: Sky-high youth unemployment (around 15-20% in 2024-2025), soaring housing costs in cities like Beijing, and a "broken eggshell" rental crisis leaving many unable to afford basics. Blacklisting exacerbates this by limiting financial access, potentially pushing some into poverty—but direct links to mass homelessness aren't documented in reliable sources. It's a mix of economic woes and system pressures, not a dystopian purge. For deeper dives, check HRW or WIRED reports on the system's realities.