Millennials react to Alipay annual account statement

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China's leading online payment app Alipay delivered a brief 2018 annual account statement to each of its users on January 8.

The statement is a digital bill summing up the user's spending and consuming habits on living necessities, transportation, entertainment, food and other occasions in 2018.

#Alipay released an annual account statement# and has received 11.91 million views and over 4,000 comments on Weibo. /Screenshot of Webio

Unsurprisingly, it soon topped China's Twitter-like platform Weibo's trending issues of the day, and prompt discussions online. Most netizens were shocked by the amount they spent and were amazed when they saw the details of their purchasing behavior over the year.

“It is part of my New Year celebration ritual.” Weibo user @Xing_AmazingGraze told CGTN when we asked why Chinese youngsters are keen on reviewing the statement.

Since January 12, CGTN's discussion post has received over 100,000 views on Weibo. / Screenshot of Weibo

To find out the reason why Alipay annual account statements get more sensational every year, CGTN talked to economist Liu Zhiqin, senior fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University.

He stated people's reactions to the statements are a natural result of the rapid development of e-commerce in society, and a revolution in traditional consumption concepts is consequently needed.

The statement is not enough to conclude one's financial situation

“What comes into your mind when you read the statement? What was outside your expectation? And where did you spend the most in the past year?” CGTN posted the questions on Weibo four days after Alipay delivered the statement, aiming to have a glimpse into how popular the statement is amid youngsters.

Over a hundred Weibo users participated, and their reactions can be categorized into three types: I did not know I earned that much; I cannot remember where I spent all that money; It seems I had a better life than I thought.

Screenshot of comments on CGTN's Weibo. /CGTN Photo

“I feel like I am actually very rich after viewing the statement,” @Qiukeli said.

“I was shocked. How did I go through so much money?!” @ulllme expressed the same thoughts.

“For the past year, I've been so poor that I've relied on bills to tell people how rich I am,” said @Hicoop.

“My annual bill is 35,905 yuan. When I saw my Alipay bill, immediately three questions came into my mind, who am I? Where am I? Where did my money come from?” @JackMa91 commented.

Some of the others are surprised to see their purchasing behavior patterns in 2018.

Screenshot of comments on CGTN's Weibo. /CGTN Photo

“I spend over 50,000 yuan only on food!” Weibo user @DOMINIC commented. And he is not the only one who spent most of his money on food.

“I did not know I had ordered so many times on food-delivery platforms…” Weibo user @Fanglijuan_ said.

Liu told CGTN, youngsters do not need to panic or be shocked by their statements because “the statements are not enough to summarize a person's financial situation”.

Liu Zhiqin, senior fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China. /CGTN Photo

“However, it gives a clear indicator about your consuming habits, and the lifestyle you prefer,” said Liu.

Anxiety behind the statements? Not really

What are the reasons behind the shock factor these statements bring? Is it a result of youngsters' anxiety over their financial situations? Is it because of the lack of financial management from the previous generations?

“Actually, youngsters, as far as I know, are very rational. They have a grand view of their financial statement,” Liu confirmed. “There is no need to be worried, as they have higher consumption capacity and rationality than we thought.”

The real reason is that e-commerce erupted the traditional payment way, which has radically changed people's consumption patterns.

A customer pays via AI facial recognition system in Wenzhou, eastern China's Zhejiang Province. /VCG Photo

“We use Alipay during every single small occasion. I spend 5 yuan here, 5 yuan there, and even 0.7 yuan can be paid through my phone. It is too convenient so it causes a unconscious purchasing behavior from time to time,” Liu told CGTN.

As people are free to go without their wallets, the chance to buy out-of-plan goods has increased. It is not a lack of financial understanding, but the purchasing behavior that has changed silently.

Citizens can buy tube tickets via e-payment platforms in Shenzhen, southern China's Guangdong Province, since December 2018. /VCG Photo

The use of e-payment has given people less psychological burden in their daily lives. Consumers are less willing to pay if they have to count bank notes one by one.

Is consuming a bad thing? We need to enjoy the process

Traditionally, Chinese people used to see the amount of treasures and property to measure the happiness of life. On the contrary, consumption and spending used to be taken as a bad thing.

Youngsters inherited the concept, while the concept does not comply with the fast growing era of e-commerce.

VCG Photo

“When people spend money, they are pursuing a better life, which is not wrong,” said Liu.

This also answers the question why one person did not have the guts to open the statement as they said on Weibo.

“They regret after they spend. This is a result of overspending. But there is no need to be worried of. We should learn to enjoy the process when we spend and realize we are purchasing services and happiness,” said Liu. “Consumption is not a losing and painful process, as long as you know you need it and you can afford it.”

The application of mobile payment platforms have radically changed Chinese people's daily consumption behavior has happened silently and unconsciously. But our consumption value is far lagging behind technology.

It is time to embrace the new digital era, not just by updating your equipment, but by also updating your mind. Enjoy consumption, otherwise you cannot enjoy an easier life brought in by new technology.