In the past few years, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) short-form video platforms and social media apps have become increasingly popular in Taiwan, to the point where even everyday vocabulary is gradually being assimilated. If Taiwanese fail to remain vigilant in the face of this subtle cultural and technological infiltration, they might unknowingly lower their most crucial democratic defenses.
From the perspectives of sociology and information warfare, this constitutes a form of low-cost, high-return “gray-zone” election interference and cognitive manipulation. The CCP exploits the freedoms of speech and Internet access afforded by Taiwan’s democratic system, using algorithms to precisely feed audiences with entertainment, food and humorous short-form videos. Although such content might seem harmless on the surface, it often conceals a deliberately constructed narrative of a prosperous and powerful Chinese nation, while subtly fostering ridicule of and distrust toward Taiwan’s democratic institutions. This is a classic example of the boiling frog strategy — using seemingly benign entertainment to gradually erode Taiwan’s resolve to resist authoritarian expansion.
From a commonsense perspective, Taiwan’s situation is akin to installing the strongest possible locks on the front door through military investment while allowing strangers outside to speak to children through the window every day, filling their minds with misleading ideas and influencing their values and habits. As younger generations become addicted to these platforms and accustomed to the narratives and information frameworks they promote, the independent thinking and democratic identity that Taiwanese are so proud of risk being eroded little by little, often without anyone realizing it.
Safeguarding Taiwan’s democracy cannot rely solely on the armed forces and the coast guard — it also requires that all citizens establish a cultural and informational shield of psychological defense. There is no need for blanket bans or harsh self-criticism; efforts should begin with education and civil society by cultivating media literacy and critical thinking skills, allowing people to better evaluate the content they encounter on their phones. The government should also actively support Taiwan’s domestic digital content industry, utilizing our nation’s own cultural soft power to meet this challenge.
Taiwan’s greatest strengths lie in its freedom and diversity, but freedom should not become an excuse for being completely defenseless against foreign authoritarian influence. Only when we recognize that even funny videos on social media can be a part of a broader battle can we firmly safeguard the dignity of democratic Taiwan while enjoying the conveniences technology brings.
Hung Yu-jui is a translator and Japanese-language teacher.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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