996ICU
996ICU refers to a social movement and online community that emerged in China in 2018 to protest the extreme work schedules commonly seen in the country's technology and internet sectors. The term derives from the “996” work model, which means working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week, and the medical abbreviation ICU, implying that such schedules can cause severe health problems. The hashtag #996ICU quickly spread on Sina Weibo and other social media platforms, highlighting stories of burnout, sleep deprivation, and mental distress among tech workers.
In mid‑2018, a website named 996.ICU was launched by a group of software engineers. The site served
Although the Chinese government eventually tightened the enforcement of labor regulations in response to public pressure,