Download pdf
The Influence of Information Cocoon Effect on the Spread of Feminism: Taking Douyin as an Example
- 1 Shanghai Shangde Experimental School
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The rapid expansion of social media platforms has provided new avenues for feminist discourse, enabling broader public engagement and visibility. However, algorithm-driven environments like Douyin (Chinese TikTok) introduce the information cocoon effect, which reinforces user biases by tailoring content to their preferences. This study investigates how these algorithmic constraints impact the dissemination of feminist content, shaping public perception and influencing the strategies of feminist creators. Using literature review and case study methods, the paper examines the effects of Douyin's recommendation algorithms on feminist narratives. It explores how feminist creators navigate the platform's algorithmic and audience-driven challenges, addressing the tension between generating visibility and delivering substantive, intersectional feminist discourse. The findings highlight the limitations imposed by the information cocoon effect, which prioritizes superficial, sensational content, thereby narrowing feminist perspectives and perpetuating misconceptions. The study underscores the importance of quality-driven, inclusive content strategies in breaking through these constraints to foster meaningful discussions and promote gender equality in digital spaces.
Keywords
Feminism, algorithm, new media, feminism content creator
[1]. Sarah Perez. (2020). TikTok explains how the recommendation system behind its “For You” feed works – TechCrunch. TechCrunch
[2]. Just, N., & Latzer, M. (2017). Governance by and of algorithms on the internet: impact and consequences.
[3]. Sunstein, C. R. (2016). Infotopia: How Many Minds Produce Knowledge.
[4]. Marwick, A. E. (2018). Feminism and Social Media in the Digital Age.
[5]. Mendes, K., Ringrose, J., & Keller, J. (2019). Digital Feminist Activism: Women and Girls Fight Back Against Rape Culture.
[6]. Lamartine, C., & Cerqueira, C. (2023). Communicating through Cyberfeminism: Communication Strategies for the Construction of the International Feminist Strike in Portugal.
[7]. Munro, E. (2013). In Feminism: A Fourth Wave?
[8]. Lan, W. (2020) Feminist communication in the new media environment. Journalism and Communication Studies. Zhongnan University of Economics and Law.
[9]. Yang, Y.K. (2014) How feminism is stigmatized on media platforms [J].Journalism and Communication Studies, (S1).
[10]. Xie, J., Xu, X., Zhang, Y., Tan, Y., Wu, D., Shi, M., & Huang, H. (2023). The effect of short-form video addiction on undergraduates’ academic procrastination: A moderated mediation model. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1298361
[11]. Eun-Ju Lee , Yoon Jae Jang & Myojung Chung. (2021). When and How UserComments Affect News Readers’ Personal Opinion: Perceived Public Opinion and Perceived NewsPosition as Mediators.
[12]. Wu, S.Y (2021) Feminist awakening from the perspective of social media: A case study based on online women. News Communication (17),11-14 18.
Cite this article
Zhu,Y. (2025). The Influence of Information Cocoon Effect on the Spread of Feminism: Taking Douyin as an Example. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,83,52-58.
Data availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
Disclaimer/Publisher's Note
The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of EWA Publishing and/or the editor(s). EWA Publishing and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.
About volume
Volume title: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Global Politics and Socio-Humanities
© 2024 by the author(s). Licensee EWA Publishing, Oxford, UK. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Authors who
publish this series agree to the following terms:
1. Authors retain copyright and grant the series right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this
series.
2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the series's published
version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial
publication in this series.
3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and
during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See
Open access policy for details).