Abstract
When the COVID-19 virus broke out in China, foreign observers speculated whether the Chinese leadership was facing its ‘Chernobyl Moment’. China’s leadership, however, defied foreign expectations about its ostensibly floundering legitimacy and instead turned the crisis into a national success story. This article explores the role that digital media played in cementing this success, specifically how various actors mobilized nationalist sentiments and discourses on the online video-sharing platform Bilibili. By focusing on visual discourses, online commentaries, and the affordances of the digital platform, the article analyses the role that ‘hip’ and youthful content played in the authorities’ attempts to guiding online audiences to rally around the flag. The results of these efforts were viral villages of community sentiment that created strong incentives for conformity, and in which the official party line was able to reverberate with pop-culture memes and popular nationalism.
Highlights
In mid-February 2020, roughly 10 million Chinese internet users were watching a music video that was making the rounds on social media
As this article has shown, the Chinese video-sharing platform Bilibili became a prominent vehicle for mainstream political actors to promote their brand of nationalism during the COVID-19 crisis
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) capitalized on the social and commercial dynamics of Bilibili to sell its particular brand of nationalism and inspire solidarity among users, hoping in particular to reach young media consumers of hip ‘ACG’ culture
Summary
In mid-February 2020, roughly 10 million Chinese internet users were watching a music video that was making the rounds on social media. At the time of this study, the level-6 account had still been active on Bilibili, and it had produced 197 videos, attracting a following of three million fans, and generating 7 million likes and 160 million views.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
