Logo image
Avoiding online censorship through 'fatty' memes: How Chinese social media users talk about North Korea
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Avoiding online censorship through 'fatty' memes: How Chinese social media users talk about North Korea

Bingbing Zhang, Sherice Gearhart and David D. Perlmutter
Global media and communication, Vol.18(2), pp.199-218
08/01/2022
DOI: 10.1177/17427665221100596
url
https://doi.org/10.1177/17427665221100596View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Memes are humorous images, often featuring captions with superimposed text, that are shared online. To avoid censorship, Chinese netizens strategically use memes to discuss political issues. This study content analyses memes that feature an image or likeness of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un posted by Chinese social media users on the Weibo platform. Results highlight how politically astute, tech-savvy publics can express political opinions and dissent in humorous ways, even in a high censorship online environment.
Communication Social Sciences

Details

Logo image