‘Kids’ nemesis’: Chinese vlogger uses ‘recycling’ approach to help children drop bad habits

A man in central China has gone viral for a series of “second-hand brat recycling” videos that are splitting public opinion, with some praising them as vital educational tools and others warning that they cause childhood trauma.Yan Zhengjun, known by the nickname “Uncle A Jun,” hails from Henan province and has amassed 1.6 million followers on a popular platform.Since 2021, Yan has created hundreds of humorous videos centred around the theme of “recycling naughty kids.”In these videos, he typically dons a scruffy overcoat, pulls a cart, and wields a loudhailer, proclaiming: “Do any of you have a child addicted to phone games, picky about food, sleepless, prone to crying, or disobedient? Send them over!”In his videos, Yan typically wears a scruffy overcoat, pulls a cart, and wields a loudhailer. Photo: news.China.comMany Chinese parents have bookmarked his scare-tactic videos to show to their unruly children, finding this approach more effective than constant nagging.Some parents have even left comments requesting Uncle A Jun to address additional “recycling” issues related to their children’s bad habits, such as “not brushing their teeth properly” or “biting nails and lips.”Netizens have affectionately dubbed him the “nemesis of naughty kids.”Parents have shared footage of their children being captivated by his videos, with many allowing their children to leave comments vowing to behave better.Yan revealed that he posted his first video after a friend lamented about his disobedient child, joking: “If only someone could take him away and educate him for a few days.”The 39-year-old manages his online presence part-time, alongside a full-time job at a state-owned enterprise.He emphasises in his bio that he does not engage in live-streaming, advertising, or selling products, nor does he profit from his account.Parents have shared footage of their children captivated by his content, with many allowing their kids to leave comments pledging to behave better. Photo: news.China.comIn 2023, Yan faced traffic restrictions as his videos were frequently labelled by the platform as “frightening the children.”Further ReadingConcerns have emerged regarding the potential adverse effects of his videos on children’s mental health.He paused the creation of new videos for a time, while some children who had once been frightened by his content have since grown up and recognised that his videos were intended for entertainment.Yan also experienced the loss of his eldest sister to cancer, who left behind a newborn baby girl, prompting him to promise to care for her.Recently, some parents have encouraged him to resume making videos, as their second child began acting out and “needed Uncle A Jun to restore order.”Yan has also produced content aimed at instilling positive values in children. In one video, he is seen crying while receiving an injection at a hospital, reassuring children that “it’s normal to cry.”In addition to scare tactics, Yan also produces content focused on instilling positive values in children. Photo: ShutterstockHe has also explored other themes, including humorous dating videos and dramas featuring elderly characters.Yan acknowledges the controversy surrounding his videos but believes that “parents can differentiate between reality and fiction and will not solely rely on videos for their children’s education in the long run.”A primary school teacher from Sichuan province, known by her surname Zhou, remarked that Yan’s videos offer parents a low-cost “emotional remedy” for their educational anxieties.However, she also cautioned that such videos cannot replace parental guidance.“Parents’ verbal and behavioural guidance is the most significant factor in fostering lasting habits,” Zhou emphasised.