The SBTI craze

Chinese social media has a new personality obsession — but this time, it's less about self-discovery and more about self-roasting.

On April 9, the SBTI (Silly Big Personality Test) shot to the top of trending charts.

Modeled on the long-dominant MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), it offers a playful twist on traditional personality quizzes. Packed with self-deprecating labels like "ZZZZ" and "MALO", along with meme-friendly humor, it struck a chord with young internet users and sparked a fresh wave of online buzz.

The label "ZZZZ" describes a laid-back personality that copes with challenges by simply taking a nap, and "MALO", borrowed from Chinese internet slang for "monkey", has been adopted as a funny way to capture everyday bad luck or awkward moments.

According to its creator, SBTI was originally intended as a playful reminder for friends who tend to overindulge, nudging them to pay more attention to their health.

"I'm not trained in psychology, and some of the personality descriptions may be vague or completely inaccurate. Apologies for any offense," the creator wrote on the site.

Psychologist Zhong Huilan told Yangcheng Evening News that SBTI is not a professional assessment."It's mainly for entertainment — a way to express emotions rather than to define personality," she said.

"Human personality is complex and ever-changing. Any test can offer only a partial glimpse. A more mature approach is to treat such labels lightly and not let them define you," Zhong added.

Navigating uncertainty

For many young adults, growing up doesn't happen all at once — it unfolds through a series of uncertain choices, false starts, and quiet moments of doubt. This in-between stage of life has a name: the "Odyssey years".

The term was first introduced in 2007 by New York Times columnist David Brooks. Drawing inspiration from Homer's Odyssey — in which the hero Odysseus spends 10 years wandering before finally returning home after the war — it describes the long and uncertain transition from school to working life, typically spanning one's 20s to early 30s.

The idea has recently gained renewed attention on Chinese social media. In February, a Xiaohongshu user shared a video reflecting on the confusion and candid emotions of her late 20s, describing her journey as part of the "Odyssey years". The post quickly resonated with young internet users, earning more than 100,000 likes.

In today's rapidly changing world, young people are entering an environment defined by diversity, experimentation, and constant trial and error. Traditional paths to success no longer provide a clear road map, while new rules are still taking shape. As a result, the future feels increasingly open-ended and fluid.

"Instead of letting anxiety take over, it's better to focus on concrete action," said Duan Xinxing, a professor at China University of Mining and Technology, in an interview with the Yangtze Evening News."Through exploration, you'll begin to discover what truly suits you."