An unlikely viral star has had social media users scratching their heads after revealing he couldn’t get a job because he looks so young – despite claiming to be a 27-year-old man. Watch a video here:
Mao Sheng, from Guangdong province in China, says he has struggled to find work as employers don’t believe he is really in his twenties.
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Mao said he was forced to become the family’s breadwinner when his father suffered a stroke, which meant he was no longer able to work, and his mother remarried.
But he believes he has a ‘disadvantage’ due to his youthful appearance, saying he was rejected by prospective employers when applying for jobs at local factories, as they simply didn’t think he was telling the truth about his age.
According to some reports, employers are also concerned that hiring someone who looks underage may attract the attention of authorities, and could lead to sanctions.
In one video, Mao explained: "Many people consider rejuvenation a blessing, but for me it's a disadvantage.
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“My appearance prevents me from having a job to support my family."
Mao’s plight soon went viral after videos showed him talking about the difficulties he faced finding work – with one appearing to confirm his age as his ID was shown to the camera, with his birth year stated as ‘1995’.
“I hope he finds a job, this agency doesn't want to hack his salary,” one person commented.
Someone else wrote: “Please don't laugh at him, at least he is willing to make money down-to-earth and make clean money without causing chaos to the society.”
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A third said: “I watched each of his videos, and I felt that he never laughed or was happy. Seeing his expression made me feel unspeakably sad, alas! I want to cry, but when I am 27 years old, I really can't describe it.”
Others remained dubious, with one writing: “The ID card is wrong, the voice and appearance are nothing like 27 people.”
Another added: “How old is this guy? She looks sixteen or seventeen!”
Mao’s story has also been shared widely by Chinese media, although outlets have reported on any potential biological factors behind his young look.
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Thankfully, it looks like Mao has finally found work after finding online fame, having also revealed he hopes to find a girlfriend and eventually get married.
Commenting on one video on 28 July, Mao wrote: “Thank you for your concern, Brother Fan has helped me find a job.”
Featured Image Credit: TikTok/@douyinTopics: World News, Viral