China is testing restroom machines that make you watch ads in exchange for toilet paper

China is testing public restroom dispensers that require users to scan a QR code and watch advertisements before receiving toilet paper, with an option to pay seven cents to skip the ads. Municipal officials claim this addresses waste from people taking excessive free paper, building on earlier facial recognition systems used in Beijing parks. The program has sparked criticism on social media, with users questioning the impact on public dignity and concerns about monetizing basic public services.