Core Insights - The article discusses how two products, an advertisement for a kitchen appliance and an app called "Are You Dead?", have capitalized on societal anxieties related to life pressures and loneliness, respectively [5][6]. Group 1: Product and Market Response - The kitchen appliance advertisement targets the fatigue associated with life pressures, resonating with the public's anxiety about academic, career, and financial responsibilities [5]. - The "Are You Dead?" app has seen a 200-fold increase in paid downloads, indicating a strong market response to the fear of loneliness and "dying alone," particularly among the over 100 million individuals living alone in China [5][6]. - The app's price was raised from 1 yuan to 8 yuan, reflecting a strategy for long-term development and investment in additional features [5]. Group 2: Societal Context and Emotional Value - Both products effectively capture and amplify existing societal pain points rather than creating new anxieties, highlighting the sensitivity of commercial ventures to social sentiments [5]. - The advertisement and app provide "emotional value" rather than genuine solutions to the underlying issues of anxiety and loneliness, suggesting a disconnect between consumer behavior and real-life challenges [6][7]. - The article emphasizes that real solutions to societal issues require systemic approaches rather than superficial consumer products, advocating for comprehensive social support mechanisms [6][7].

Core Viewpoint - Zhang Xuefeng, a prominent figure in the college application consulting industry, faces significant backlash as his social media accounts are banned, indicating potential issues with his business model and practices [2][10]. Group 1: Business Practices and Market Position - Zhang Xuefeng has established himself as a dominant player in the college application consulting market, overshadowing competitors in terms of size, reputation, and profitability [3]. - His success is attributed to his ability to generate attention through provocative statements and marketing strategies that exploit societal anxieties regarding education [6][12]. - The pricing for his services, such as college application consulting, ranges from 13,000 to 19,000 yuan, with reports of significant sales during live broadcasts [6][8]. Group 2: Controversial Statements and Public Perception - Zhang has made extreme statements that have drawn criticism, such as disparaging certain academic fields, which have been labeled as exacerbating educational anxiety [5][6]. - His claims of providing "big data precision reporting" and "100% admission guarantee" have been met with skepticism, with parents questioning the actual value of the services offered [6][12]. - The backlash against his marketing tactics has led to a growing awareness of the potential exploitation of parents' concerns, suggesting a shift in public sentiment towards accountability in the education sector [12][13]. Group 3: Future Outlook and Industry Trends - The rise of AI-driven college application tools and the establishment of public information channels by the government may threaten the viability of Zhang's business model, which relies on exploiting information asymmetries [12]. - The increasing public demand for fairness in education and accountability from influencers indicates a potential decline in the effectiveness of Zhang's current strategies [12][13]. - The ongoing controversies surrounding his practices suggest that his business may be approaching a critical juncture, with the possibility of a significant decline in influence and profitability [10][13].