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A very Chinese time? How memes are paving the way for a soft power shift

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Meredith ChenFebruary 8, 2026 at 01:00 PM
A very Chinese time? How memes are paving the way for a soft power shift
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A social media trend called "You met me at a very Chinese time in my life" has emerged on platforms like TikTok and Instagram over the past year. Influencers are posting content showcasing stereotypically Chinese activities, such as drinking hot water and eating congee. Experts suggest this trend reflects a shift in the global perception of "Chineseness," driven by increased exposure to Chinese culture through entertainment and lifestyle content online. This familiarity, perceived as authentic and playful, is helping to build China's soft power. While some observers attribute this shift to political fatigue in the US, others caution that it may not translate into lasting positive views of China as a nation-state.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context
TikTok 40% Instagram 40% New York University 50% United States 60% Shaoyu Yuan 70% China ×490%

Keywords

soft power 100% chinese culture 90% memes 80% social media 70% cultural trend 70% chineseness 60% tiktok 50% cultural perception 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Positive
Score: 0.40

Source Transparency

Source
South China Morning Post
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
China

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis.

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