#Collison

In selecting my thesis topic—documenting and analyzing the interactions and conflicts between China and the U.S. in digital spaces—I aim to explore a crucial moment in technological globalization. As an international student in the U.S. who actively engages with social media, I have observed a significant shift in digital power dynamics. The U.S. has increasingly recognized and reacted to China’s technological advancements, while Chinese tech innovators have demonstrated a growing sense of competition and resistance.

Recent events illustrate this dynamic transformation. The TikTok ban has forced U.S. users to explore alternative platforms, leading to a surge in engagement on REDNote, a platform traditionally centered on Chinese users. Similarly, DeepSeek's emergence as an open-source language model has positioned it as a competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, directly challenging U.S. dominance in AI development. Another striking example is how Chinese audiences have organized collective actions to boost a domestic film’s ranking in global box office history, disrupting an industry long dominated by Hollywood.

These occurrences signal a new era in digital geopolitics, where nationalism, globalization, and digital platform dynamics intersect to shape hybrid virtual spaces. By documenting these phenomena, I seek to capture the evolving relationship between China and the U.S. through the lens of digital culture. Given the rapid nature of these developments, I believe my thesis will serve not only as an academic exploration but also as a real-time archive of a pivotal shift in digital and cultural exchange.