Algorithmic Explosion or Emotional Resonance? An Analysis of the Cross-Regional Dissemination Mechanism of the Song Méi chūxī and Emotional Identification Among People in the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan Region
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20252726Keywords:
Grounded Theory, Algorithmic Content Recommendations, Cross-Regional Cultural Communication, Chinese Mainland, Taiwan RegionAbstract
Introduction: digital technology and social media boost cross-regional popular culture dissemination. The song Méi Chūxī spreads across Chinese Mainland and Taiwan Region via algorithms and emotional resonance, yet its dissemination mechanism remains understudied.
Objective: to explore the core drivers, differential paths of Méi Chūxī’s cross-regional dissemination, and its interactive logic with audiences’ emotional identification.
Method: grounded theory was adopted, combining in-depth interviews with 25 respondents (13 from Mainland, 12 from Taiwan) and online dissemination data analysis.
Results: dissemination is driven by algorithm fission and dissemination motivation synergy; emotional resonance mediates contact, cognition, and dissemination. Regional background moderates paths—Mainland relies on algorithm-driven rapid spread, Taiwan on social circle diffusion.
Conclusions: this study constructs a dissemination-identification interaction model, filling research gaps and providing references for cross-strait cultural communication.
References
1.
Mei W. Efficacy reconstruction of cultural intermediaries in the digital era: examining industrial upgrading and overseas dissemination paths of the animation film industry. Acad J Humanit Soc Sci. 2025;8(6):57-63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25236/AJHSS.2025.080608
2.
Fai F. Research on Macao study tour policy and cross-strait cultural construction on the Macao local government cultural industry—taking the “Ten Thousand Persons Plan”. Lex Localis J Local Self-Gov. 2024;22(4):372-408. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52152/22.4.372-408(2024)
3.
Athanasopoulos G, Eerola T, Lahdelma I, Kaliakatsos-Papakostas M. Harmonic organisation conveys both universal and culture-specific cues for emotional expression in music. PLoS One. 2021;16(1):e0244964. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244964
4.
Huang Y, Ye W. ‘Traffic rewards’, ‘algorithmic visibility’, and ‘advertiser satisfaction’: how Chinese short-video platforms cultivate creators in stages. Convergence. 2024;30(1):659-682. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13548565231211117
5.
Ye W, Zhao L. “I know it’s sensitive”: internet censorship, recoding, and the sensitive word culture in China. Discourse Context Media. 2023;51:100666. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcm.2022.100666 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcm.2022.100666
6.
Zhou Y. Cross the borders: the dual cultural devaluation of the Belt and Road co-production films. Humanit Soc Sci Commun. 2025;12(1):1-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04817-9
7.
Zhang Q, Shao Y, Li X. Play, watch, share: the dissemination of the cultural presence of games on video-based social media. Humanit Soc Sci Commun. 2025;12(1):1-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05112-3
8.
Brinkmann L, Gezerli D, von Kleist K, Müller TF, Rahwan I, Pescetelli N. Hybrid social learning in human-algorithm cultural transmission. Philos Trans R Soc A. 2022;380(2227):20200426. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2020.0426
11 Cheang T, et al
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20252726
ISSN: 2796-9711
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20252726 DOI: https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20252726
9.
Bispo Júnior JP. Social desirability bias in qualitative health research. Rev Saude Publica. 2022;56:101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2022056004164
10.
Lim WM. What is qualitative research? An overview and guidelines. Australas Mark J. 2025;33(2):199-229. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/14413582241264619
11.
Mohajan D, Mohajan H. Exploration of coding in qualitative data analysis: grounded theory perspective. 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56397/RAE.2022.12.07
12.
Rawhani C. Relational coding: enhancing the transparency and trustworthiness of grounded theory research. Methodol Innov. 2023;16(1):102-120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20597991221144566
13.
Corbin J. Strauss’s grounded theory. In: Developing grounded theory. London: Routledge; 2021. p. 25-44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315169170-4
14.
Charmaz K, Thornberg R. The pursuit of quality in grounded theory. Qual Res Psychol. 2021;18(3):305-327. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2020.1780357
15.
Narayanan A. Understanding social media recommendation algorithms. 2023.
16.
Shambour Q. A deep learning based algorithm for multi-criteria recommender systems. Knowl Based Syst. 2021;211:106545. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.knosys.2020.106545
17.
He L, Luo J, Tang Y, Wu Z, Zhang H. Motivating user-generated content: the unintended consequences of incentive thresholds. MIS Q. 2023;47(3):1015-1044. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2022/17369
18.
Wang C, Li Z. Impact of discrete emotions on audience engagement with climate change videos on Chinese TikTok (Douyin). Soc Behav Pers. 2024;52(4):1-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.13076
19.
Omer MM. Exploring emotional resonance: listener perspectives on music that evokes positive and negative emotions. Contemp J Soc Sci Rev. 2025;3(2):1103-1115.
20.
Zhang Y, Wang X. The impact of sensory modalities and background information on the emotional resonance of Li Bai’s classical poetry. Front Psychol. 2025;16:1541680. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1541680
21.
Hong N. Digital-media-based interaction and dissemination of traditional culture integrating using social media data analytics. Comput Intell Neurosci. 2022;2022:5846451. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5846451
22.
Liu L, Zhao H. Research on consumers’ purchase intention of cultural and creative products—metaphor design based on traditional cultural symbols. PLoS One. 2024;19(5):e0301678. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301678
23.
Ward C, Szabó Á. Acculturation, cultural identity and well-being. Nat Rev Psychol. 2023;2(5):267-282. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-023-00171-2
24.
Zou R, Jiang L. Factors influencing Chinese folk music transmission via the Douyin short video platform: a grounded theory perspective. Front Commun. 2025;10:1537640. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1537640
25.
Zhu H, Wei H, Wei J. Understanding users’ information dissemination behaviors on Douyin, a short video mobile application in China. Multimed Tools Appl. 2024;83(20):58225-58243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-023-17831-3
26.
Liao SH, Widowati R, Cheng CJ. Investigating Taiwan Instagram users’ behaviors for social media and social commerce development. Entertain Comput. 2022;40:100461. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.entcom.2021.100461
27.
Yang WY. Personalized Facebook campaigning and the quest for personal votes in Taiwan. J Inf Technol Polit. 2024;:1-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2024.2417831
28.
Joa CY, Abuljadail M, Ha LS. YouTube self-directed learning in the US and Taiwan: an application of the personal responsibility orientation model. Online Inf Rev. 2023;47(6):1134-1154. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-01-2021-0051
29.
Zarouali B, Boerman SC, de Vreese CH. Is this recommended by an algorithm? The development and validation of the algorithmic media content awareness scale (AMCA-scale). Telemat Inform. 2021;62:101607. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2021.101607
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 FatFai Ieong, TakHong Cheang (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The article is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Unless otherwise stated, associated published material is distributed under the same licence.