Reframing China in Digital Discourse: U.S. Representations across Platforms after the TikTok Ban

This study treats TikTok as an unintended arena of Chinese public diplomacy and examines how China’s image is constructed in U.S. discourse surrounding the TikTok ban. Using qualitative framing analysis, it compares elite newspapers (The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal), tech blogs (Wired, Gizmodo), and TikTok user-generated videos. Cross-platform analysis identifies six recurring frames: elite newspapers reproduce state-centric and threat-based portrayals; tech blogs introduce reflexive, platform-oriented critiques; TikTok users contribute emotionally resonant, culturally connective, and satirical expressions that diversify China’s image. The findings suggest that national image construction is becoming increasingly decentralized. In this fragmented discursive ecology, China’s public diplomacy must adapt by emphasizing affective engagement and incorporating non-state narratives.