The Disruptive Nature of Short Video-Based Social Media Platforms in China

Abstract

Can short video-based social media platforms disrupt economic markets and upend government censorship? Short videos have become the vanguard of social media. This chapter examines how this modern information communication technology (ICT) disrupts government regulation and the market as a whole in China, using TikTok as an example. Specifically, it argues that a video social media platform with unlimited content and low usage thresholds, combined with citizen's lack of legal awareness, makes it easy to expose privacy, encounter fraud, and infringe upon intellectual property. These factors are exasperated by TikTok's video format since video-based content is more difficult to censor in a timely manner. Consequently, TikTok poses challenges for government regulation and disrupts government censorship. The chapter concludes by discussing policy implications. Specifically, it proposes the implementation of modernized laws and regulations to tackle the distinct challenges and risks presented by cutting-edge technologies.