Listening to the Voices of China’s Future: A Qualitative Study of Social Media Usage and Elite Trust Among Chinese Urban University Students

Abstract

This study uses qualitative interviews to explore social media usage and trust in elites among Chinese urban college students. Ten in-depth interviews were conducted to understand how social media interacts with students’ judgments and perceptions of elite groups such as entrepreneurs and politicians. The results revealed that social media content influences students by corroborating personal experiences, providing descriptive information, and disseminating various perspectives. Social media also serves as a platform for students to find role models and verify or defy authoritative discourse, which may be a response to feelings of social isolation. Both personal experiences and social media information play similar roles in shaping opinions about elites. Negative evaluations of elites centered on meaninglessness, vanity, and exploitation. The findings provide insight into how social media interacts with trust among young people in China amid the country’s rapid economic changes.