Edited by Mr. N C Bipindra, Chairman and Founding Trustee, Law & Society Alliance.
Image Courtesy: LinkedIn
Abstract
The digital landscape has been dramatically reshaped by the proliferation of Chinese social media platforms like TikTok and WeChat, among others, which utilise sophisticated algorithms to engage and retain users, often leading to addiction. In common parlance, this addiction is called ‘Digital Opium,’ capturing the essence of Chinese digital platforms (Szablewicz, 2010). Manipulative tactics like infinite scroll, short videos, and personalized “For You” pages exacerbate the addictive nature of these apps, inducing a “flow-like state” for users (Petrillo, 2021).
Over the past decade, South Asia has seen a rise in digital consumption facilitated by a vast youth population (Zaman, 2022). Chinese media houses have been heavily involved in shaping public opinion in this region to avoid criticism. For example, China’s control over Pakistan's domestic media is driven by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. In Afghanistan, Xinhua, a Chinese news agency, has become the second-most influential news source. Additionally, to shape its narratives in South Asia, China reportedly utilizes tactics such as cyberbullying, misinformation campaigns, and harassment of journalists (ANI, 2023). Unfortunately, the psychological consequences of these manipulations remain unexplored. This piece seeks to do just that. Firstly, it will unravel key questions – how are Chinese algorithms different from others, and why so? Secondly, it will explore the concept of ‘Digital Opium’ and map how the addictive algorithms of Chinese social media exacerbate digital addiction in South Asia. Thirdly, the penetration of Chinese media into South Asia and their psychological impact on users will be examined through country based case study analysis. Fourthly, other manipulative tactics China uses on platforms like Facebook and Twitter will be discussed. Lastly, this piece will examine how South Asian governments combat digital addiction and potential policy measures to limit Chinese influence in the region.
