Communication Design Quarterly Jan 2016 Open Access

The communication design of WeChat: ideological as well as technical aspects of social media

Xiaobo Wang Georgia State University ; Baotong Gu Georgia State University

Abstract

In this paper, the authors discuss how the technical and ideological design of WeChat, a social media platform, enables the free flow of information within the context of heavy Internet policing and surveillance in the People's Republic of China. Through a case study of two instances of grassroots and social activism, the authors highlight how three unique features of WeChat---Moments, Friends' Circle, and Share to---enhance privacy and security issues related to information dissemination. In both cases examined here, the unique design of certain WeChat features enhanced privacy and security in ways that allowed for the free dissemination of information and public involvement through social media. In examining these cases, this study represents one of the first attempts to use a Chinese social media app to examine technology design within a particular political and social context. The authors hope the results of this study will further our understanding of the reciprocal relationship between technology, design, and the social context in which technologies are used.

Journal
Communication Design Quarterly
Published
2016-01-08
DOI
10.1145/2875501.2875503
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
OA PDF Gold
Topics
qualitative research social media
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Fraiberg (2021)
    Introduction to Special Issue on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Communication …
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. Miller et al. (2020)
    Social media in professional, technical, and scientific communication programs:…
    Communication Design Quarterly

References (29) · 1 in this index

  1. Adler P. S. & Winograd T. (1992). Usability: turning technologies into tools / edited by Paul S. Adler Terry …
     ↗
  2. 10.1145/2405716.2405726
     ↗
  3. Bolter J. D. & Gromala. D. (2003). Windows and Mirrors: Interaction Design Digital Art and the Myth of Transp…
     ↗
  4. Chen W. H. (2015)
    W. H. Chen & S
  5. Doheny-Farina S. (2003). Rhetoric Innovation Technology: Case Studies of Technical Communication in Technolog…
Show all 29 →
  1. Facebook. (n.d.). Newsroom. Retrieved from http://newsroom.fb.com/company-info/ Facebook. (n.d.). Newsroom. …
  2. Feenberg A. (1991). Critical Theory of Technology. Oxford University Press. Feenberg A. (1991). Critical Th…
  3. Fleron F. J. Jr. ed. (1977) Technology and Communist Culture: The Socio-cultural Impact of Technology Under S…
  4. Fong M. (2014). China monitors the Internet and the public pays the bill. Retrieved from https://advocacy.glo…
  5. Frascara J. (2004). Communication design: principles methods and practice. New York: Allworth Press. Frascar…
  6. Gallo F. T. (2011). Business leadership in China: How to blend best Western practices with Chinese wisdom. Si…
  7. Qian G. & Bandurski D. L. (2011). China's emerging public sphere: The impact of media commercialization profe…
  8. Getto et al. (2015)
    Designing globally, working locally: using personas to develop online communica…
    Communication Design Quarterly
  9. Hall E. T. (1976). Beyond culture New York: Doubleday. Hall E. T. (1976). Beyond culture New York: Doubleday.
  10. Huang C. (2014). What is WeChat? Retrieved from http://wenku.baidu.com/view/1810c15ccc7931b765ce15b3.html Hu…
  11. 10.1111/j.1467-1770.1966.tb00804.x
     ↗
  12. Kemp S. (2015). Digital Social & Mobile Worldwide in 2015. Retrieved from http://wearesocial.net/tag/statisti…
  13. Lazar J. (2007). Universal usability: designing computer interfaces for diverse user populations. Chichester;…
  14. López A. J. McClelland E. Goldhagen D. Gillmor K. & Hickman A. B. (2007) The organic Internet: Organizing his…
  15. Milan S. (2013). Social Movements and Their Technologies: Wiring Social Change: Writing Social Change. Palgra…
     ↗
  16. 10.1163/19426720-01302007
     ↗
  17. Nordenstreng K. & Schiller H. I. (1978). National sovereignty and international communication. Norwood N.J.: …
  18. Obama M. (2014). Remarks by the First Lady at Stanford Center at Peking University. Retrieved from https://ww…
  19. Powers S. & Jablonski M. (2015). The real cyber war: The political economy of internet freedom. Champaign IL:…
     ↗
  20. Shirk S. L. (2011)
    New York: Oxford University Press
  21. Smith C. (2015). How many users do Skype WhatsApp WeChat LINE Facebook Messenger and other top chat apps have…
  22. Sun. Huatong. (2012). Cross-Cultural Technology Design: Creating Culture-Sensitive Technology for local Users…
     ↗
  23. Wagner K. (2014). Facebook Is Making It Easier to Keep Your Private Posts Private. Retrieved from http://mash…
  24. WeChat. Retrieved from http://www.wechat.com/en/features.html#live_chat WeChat. Retrieved from http://www.we…
CrossRef global citation count: 28 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Journal of Business and Technical Communication Apr 2026
    From Monologue to Dialogue: Communication Strategies of Chinese Museums on Weibo and the Imperative for Participation Awareness ↗
    Xiaole Zhu; Yoonjae Nam
    service learning qualitative research social media
  2. Argumentation Mar 2026
    Is a Contradiction Between Arguments Less Likely to be Noticed When They are Implicit? An Experimental Case Study ↗
    Edoardo Lombardi Vallauri
    argument qualitative research social media
  3. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Dec 2025
    How Documentation Saved Lives: An Actor-Network Analysis of Digital Volunteering in China’s Rainstorm Disasters ↗
    Lin Dong; Chen Chen; Yeqing Kong
    professional writing qualitative research social media
  4. Communication Design Quarterly Sep 2025
    Designing Social Media Learning Environments to Promote Digital Literacy ↗
    Jacob D. Richter
    writing pedagogy qualitative research digital rhetoric social media literacy studies
  5. Communication Design Quarterly Sep 2025
    Using Social Media as a User-Centered Design Tool: Types of User Feedback Useful for Iterative Design ↗
    Dorcas A. Anabire
    qualitative research social media body and rhetoric