The Demonization of Countries on Social Media

Written by: Zheng Ruiwen (23-A1)

Designed by: Dhanya Kumar Ramadoss (23-U1)

What do you first think of when someone mentions China? Some may say “rich culture” and “beautiful landscapes”, while others mention “amazing food” or  “rising superpower”. In recent years, however, the first things that come to people's minds have been nothing short of negative — “communist oppression”,  “authoritarian rule of CCP (Chinese Communist Party)”, “concentration camps" and many more. We also make an interesting discovery — most of these comments are found on social media platforms. As more discussions surface detailing the ways that social media can impact people's perceptions, one cannot help but wonder — are such widespread negative views about certain countries caused by social media? What role does social media play in the shaping of perspectives and opinions surrounding a country? Join me in this article as we explore how social media has played a part in the ‘demonization’ of a country.

Firstly, what does the demonization of a country mean? This often refers to the portrayal or representation of that nation, its government, or its people in an extremely negative or evil light. It can result in a large majority of people having a generally cynical impression of that country. 

China, with its vast population, economic prowess, and geopolitical significance, has often been a subject of scrutiny and debate. This is especially so in recent years, with people across the globe witnessing its precipitous economic growth, solidifying its position as the world’s second largest economy. As China walks into the international spotlight, numerous aspects of its domestic issues have drawn massive criticism from observers all over the world, such as its political system and human rights issues. 

So how has social media exacerbated these criticisms, to the point where they are often labelled as "demonization"?

A key trait of mainstream Western media today, as shown by researchers, is that they continuously and relentlessly churn out reports and articles that aim to paint China in an extremely negative light. Despite numerous media outlets striving to achieve balance in their views, many often regurgitate trivia or fabricated stories with no evidence to support their callous statements about the country. Such biases in reporting have been not just reflected but amplified by social media.

As social media platforms thrive on engagement, this can lead to the selective reporting of news that emphasises negative events or aspects of a country while downplaying positive ones. Moreover, due to the algorithms of social media that function to tailor content suited to users’ needs, focusing on a specific type of content will result in more of such news being recommended and fed to users. This fuels the creation of toxic echo chambers, where thoughts and perceptions of users – regardless whether they are harmful or benevolent –  are reinforced by similar content. This can exacerbate distorted perceptions and reinforce negative stereotypes. Ultimately, when an erroneous impression of a country gets widely popularised and exaggerated, it can lead to the demonization of a country. 

In the case of China, discourse surrounding the Xinjiang Internment Camps have been the centre of human rights abuse allegations in the country. While this is an issue that warrants international attention, many point out that social media has played a part in exaggerating the extent of such internment camps, such as spreading words on various inhumane punishments carried out in the camps when there is not yet sufficient proof. Such allegations have significantly tarnished the image of China in the international stage.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was also a surge of blame directed towards China for the outbreak of the virus. Some social media users and political figures spread conspiracy theories alleging that China deliberately released the virus or covered up its severity, increasing hostility towards China and its government that culminated in many hate crimes against Asians in Western countries during that period of time. This also goes to show that demonization of a country does not just affect the image of its government and political leaders, but rather the plights of innocent citizens as well. 

These are only some examples of how social media has aggravated people’s perceptions of China in recent years. It is crucial for us to understand that while social media is a good way for us to educate ourselves due to the sea of information available on these platforms, we have to be discerning of the perspectives we are exposed to, so as to avoid feeding into baseless theories and conspiracies that can ultimately bring harm to others.