What is it about?
When lead author Jingyi "Serena" Duan was in a doctoral seminar with Professor Nikhilesh Dholakia, she introduced the seminar group to the fascinating and -- little known to the West -- world of Chinese social media. This paper evolved from this seminar. Later, encouraged by the QMR special editor Dr. Yuri Seo and with comments from his insightful reviewers, Duan and Dholakia developed this paper into a wider interpretation of what fast-growing Chinese social media mean in a world with an expanding footprint of Chinese internet companies.
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Why is it important?
The Chinese social media world, with a potential reach of 1.5 billion people, is almost as large as the English-language social media world. Yet, in the West, the understanding of this social media world is rather limited. Through this cultural interpretive study of the Chinese social media, we offer a sociological insight into: (1) a changing China, in the era of pervasive mobile social media use; (2) portending changes as Chinese tech companies expand their footprint in the West.
Perspectives
Not just China but the Asian, and particularly East Asian (especially also Japanese and Korean), social media worlds need far greater research attention from the West than they have received so far. We hope this paper and similar works will keep improving the understanding that the West has of China, East Asia, and the non-West in general. In the future, among other directions, we want to explore the massive impacts of WeChat; and tech-led social change in China in general.
Dr Nikhilesh Dholakia
University of Rhode Island
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The reshaping of Chinese consumer values in the social media era, Qualitative Market Research An International Journal, September 2015, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/qmr-07-2014-0058.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Google Scholar Page: Nikhilesh Dholakia
Use this link to delve into technology-related as well as other research by Nik Dholakia.
Google Scholar Page: Ruby Roy Dholakia
Jingyi "Serena" Duan is completing her doctorate under the supervision of Professor Ruby Roy Dholakia, whose research into technology and consumers at the University of Rhode Island (URI) has created a 25-year impressive track record of studies into tech-markets.
China Social Media: China Biz Review
As our article points out, there is a rising imperative to understand China's social media. This is from 'China Business Review'.
China Social Media: ClickZ
As our article points out, there is a rising imperative to understand China's social media. This is from “ClickZ”.
China Social Media: China Internet Watch
As our article points out, there is a rising imperative to understand China's social media. This is from “China Internet Watch”. This site draws from multiple sources and offers frequent updates.
China Social Media: McKinsey & Co.
As our article points out, there is a rising imperative to understand China's social media. This is from “McKinsey & Co”. As a global consulting firm, they are able to draw from a vast range of consultants and staffers.
China Social Media: Statista
As our article points out, there is a rising imperative to understand China's social media. This is from “Statista”. Strong on facts and stats.
China Social Media: The Atlantic
As our article points out, there is a rising imperative to understand China's social media. This is from “The Atlantic”. This 2012 piece from the venerable intellectual magazine throws light on many of the reasons why Weibo (and now Wechat) are enormously popular: the ephemeral nature of the content and of interactions keeps these media relatively free from censorship.
China Social Media: Fast Company
As our article points out, there is a rising imperative to understand China's social media. This is from “Fast Company”. From 2011, this is one of the early view from a western perspective.
China Social Media: China Biz Review
As our article points out, there is a rising imperative to understand China's social media. This is from “Business Insider”. The opening chart is a nice summary snapshot comparison of China and USA social media.
China Social Media: AdAge
As our article points out, there is a rising imperative to understand China's social media. This is from “AdAge”. To-the-point for MarCom practitioners and researchers…
China Social Media: Forbes
As our article points out, there is a rising imperative to understand China's social media. This is from “Forbes”. A 2012 piece from this business magazine.
China Social Media: A CNN story
This s CNN story on the seamy side of Chinese social media... using the platforms for illicit gambling.
China Social Media: Mashable
As our article points out, there is a rising imperative to understand China's social media. This is from “Mashable”. A 2012 piece from this leading tech website.
China Social Media: FirstMonday
Three researchers take a serious look at censorship in Chinese social media.
China Social Media: Ogilvy
As a major ad agency, Ogilvy tracks new media worldwide. Here is an infographic on social media in China.
China Social Media: Guardian tracks a disaster
The Tianjin chemical explosions were some of the deadliest in China. Here, the UK-based 'Guardian' tracks the way these explosions played out in Chinese social media.
Internet & Social Change in China: WSJ
Internet in general and social media in particular are changing the social-cultural-political landscape in China. Here is a 2013 perspective on this theme from Wall Street Journal.
Internet & Social Change in China: BBC
Internet in general and social media in particular are changing the social-cultural-political landscape in China. Here is a 2013 perspective on this theme from BBC.
Internet & Social Change in China: Oxford blog
Internet in general and social media in particular are changing the social-cultural-political landscape in China. Here is a very interesting perspective from Professor Bill Dutton: he wonders whether Internet will change China, or whether China will change the Internet?
Jingyi "Serena" Duan: LinkedIn
Webpage of the first author of this paper on LinkedIn.
Jingyi "Serena" Duan: CV
CV of the first author.
Weibo, WeChat competion: No holds barred
Interesting as the rise of Sina Weibo is, the zooming past and overtaking of Weibo by Tencent WeChat is even more fascinating. This story shows how the battle is becoming very tough.
Weibo, WeChat competion: No holds barred 2
Interesting as the rise of Sina Weibo is, the zooming past and overtaking of Weibo by Tencent WeChat is even more fascinating. This story shows how the battle is becoming very tough.
Weibo, WeChat competion: Overlaps. Differences
Interesting as the rise of Sina Weibo is, the zooming past and overtaking of Weibo by Tencent WeChat is even more fascinating. This story examines similarities and differences of the two.
Weibo, WeChat competion: Political controls
Interesting as the rise of Sina Weibo is, the zooming past and overtaking of Weibo by Tencent WeChat is even more fascinating. This site examines China’s political control of the two.
Weibo, WeChat competion: Political controls 2
Interesting as the rise of Sina Weibo is, the zooming past and overtaking of Weibo by Tencent WeChat is even more fascinating. This site examines China’s political control after appearance of sexually explicit content.
Weibo, WeChat competion: e-Shopping
Interesting as the rise of Sina Weibo is, the zooming past and overtaking of Weibo by Tencent WeChat is even more fascinating. This looks at the enormous e-shopping power of the users of the two sites.
Weibo, WeChat competion: Financial Impact
The parent companies, especially Tencent, are reaping huge financial rewards.
Weibo, WeChat competion: KOLs
This profiles the differences and similarities of Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) of the two platforms.
China Social Media: Kantar
Statistical report - 2015
China Social Media: Fashion
Report on how western fashion brands are using Chinese social media.
China Social Shopping: McKinsey
April 2016 report from McKinsey & Co. on how social shopping is transforming social media and e-commerce in China.
China Social Shopping: WeChat
This report says that WeChat is accelerating the "social shopping" trend in China, far faster than in USA.
Contributors
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