A video posted by China Insider shows how it works. A person approaches the dispenser, scans a QR code, and then has to sit through a short ad before any paper is released.
Once the 30-second commercial ends, the machine dispenses just a limited number of sheets, leaving people with little choice but to comply.
Users are charged around 6 cents for the privilege of bypassing the commercial and getting more paper right away.
While the whole idea feels unsettling to many, officials claim the purpose is to prevent unnecessary wastage.
They argue that when paper is offered for free, people often pull out far more than they actually need.
The setup has since been branded something out of Black Mirror by people reacting to the story on Reddit.
Others jumped in with tongue-in-cheek variations, calling it “Brown Mirror” or even “Sometimes yellow mirror”.
“This would last about 5 seconds in America before it got smashed and the paper was just forcefully taken out,” raged one commenter, clearly unimpressed with the concept.
Another user chimed in, adding: “I would smash it on principle, and I’m pretty sure I have a key on my keyring capable of opening it,”
Still, others pointed out that context is important when looking at this story. In China, it’s long been common for public restrooms not to provide paper at all, meaning this system isn’t quite as shocking for locals as it might seem to outsiders.
Many readers who had spent time in the country explained that this practice has been around for years and is considered normal there.
Travelers on sites like Trip Advisor have echoed the same advice, saying it’s wise to always carry your own tissues when moving around the country, since toilet paper is often unavailable in public washrooms.
As another person clarified: “Toilet paper is not scarce, it is not just not supplied in many public toilets” They also explained, “Where to put the paper depends on the sewage system to which the toilet in connected. Not an issue in hotels, modern shopping malls but an issue in older building. When required, there is usually a sign telling you to put it in the bin.”
