The incident reflects a broader transformation in an industry once associated almost exclusively with treating so-called “internet addiction.” A July investigation by China Newsweek documented several adults placed in similar institutions by their own families. Another investigation by Jiemian News found adults as old as 33 living alongside teenagers in one behavioral correction school. These institutions emerged during the 2000s, amid national anxiety over youth “internet addiction.” The name has changed; the business model has simply expanded to adults whose life choices conflict with parental expectations.