From Great Firewall to Global Connections: Dual Digital Platforms, Identity, and Integration Among Chinese Immigrants in Canada

Project Overview

Chinese Canadians, comprising 5% of Canada’s population, are a diverse and influential group, with many recent first-generation immigrants. Before migrating, most relied on Chinese platforms like WeChat and Weibo due to China’s Great Firewall, which blocks global social media platforms. Upon arrival in Canada, they gain access to new media ecosystems that often contrast with Chinese narratives, creating a unique dynamic as they navigate competing information landscapes. This dual exposure influences their identity, societal integration, and perceptions amidst growing Canada-China geopolitical tensions, highlighting the critical role of digital tools in shaping integration and social cohesion.

This study will investigate the impact of digital communication tools, particularly the continued use of Chinese origin platforms like WeChat and the adoption of mainstream Canadian platforms, on the integration of Chinese immigrants into Canadian society.

Research Questions

• How does the use of Chinese-origin platforms like WeChat influence Chinese Canadians’ perceptions of their identity, societal belonging, and domestic and global politics, including Canada-China relations?
• How do Chinese immigrants react to exposure to Canadian digital platforms?
• To what extent do the findings from Chinese Canadians apply to similar immigrant groups in other countries which shares comparable demographic and geopolitical contexts?  

Methods

Collaborators

UBC Centre for Migration Studies

• Principal Investigator: Xiaojun Li (Associate Professor, Political Science)

Research Assistant

• Aodi Cheng (MA Student, Political Science, UBC)

Outputs

Project Status

This project is currently in the Data Collection and Writing phase.

Keywords

This research was undertaken thanks in part to funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.