Architectures of Persuasion: Framing Bias, Decision-Making and Platform Governance in China's Digital Entertainment Economy

In the fast-growing digital entertainment industry, framing bias has become a widespread option design tool that can influence decisions made by users, sometimes at the cost of users' autonomy. Based on the empirical case of iQiyi's membership and PVOD (premium video-on-demand) services, this paper investigates the two-sided effects of information presentation: it can lower the decision costs, but also poses structural decision risks. The research is based on a theory of "information presentation- cognitive emotional processing-behavioural outcomes," and it is through these three different frames—attribute, default, scarcity and social proof—that it dissects how user conversion happens. This paper proposes practical solutions to address the associated damages, such as compulsory transparency labelling, dynamic cooling-off regulations, and enhanced public digital literacy. The results highlight the need to rethink platform governance in order to ensure consumer autonomy is maintained while also preserving the revenue streams that drive content production. This study applies the affect-heuristic and choice-architecture theories to China's entertainment platform context and provides practical suggestions for regulators, platform operators, and consumer advocates aiming to promote a sustainable and well-regulated digital entertainment economy.