February was a month of festive celebrations, viral entertainment, and digital transformation across China’s top social media platforms. As the country embraced Lunar New Year traditions, discussions ranged from digital red packets, record-breaking films, AI breakthroughs, and sporting achievements to economic policies and social controversies. Here’s an in-depth look at how Weibo, Douyin, Xiaohongshu, Baidu, and Zhihu shaped online conversations throughout the month.
Weibo: Lunar New Year Festivities & Celebrity Headlines
As expected, Weibo was at the center of Lunar New Year buzz, with actor Chen Zheyuan’s digital red packet giveaway igniting excitement. The CCTV Spring Festival Gala, themed Auspicious Year of the Snake, Endless Prosperity, became a trending topic, with performances sparking debates over tradition vs. modern entertainment. However, entertainment news took a somber turn with the sudden passing of Barbie Hsu (Big S) at 48, prompting widespread mourning and discussions about the risks of flu-induced pneumonia. Meanwhile, Nezha 2 smashed box office records, surpassing 10 billion RMB, securing its place as China’s highest-grossing film ever and fueling nostalgia-driven marketing opportunities.
Douyin: Sports Triumphs, AI Innovation & Economic Tensions
On Douyin, sports and politics dominated discussions. China’s U20 football team’s commanding 5-2 victory over Kyrgyzstan and Lin Shidong’s rise as world No.1 in table tennis at just 19 reinforced national sports pride. Meanwhile, China’s retaliation against U.S. tariffs escalated trade war tensions, sparking economic debates on the platform. AI continued to be a hot topic, with discussions on DeepSeek AI’s open-source capabilities and a viral moment where users asked the AI to predict lottery numbers, leading to a wider discourse on AI ethics and randomness in predictive models.
Xiaohongshu: Fashion Trends, Influencer Moments & Cultural Buzz
Xiaohongshu was a hub for Lunar New Year aesthetics, beauty trends, and lifestyle discussions. Users flooded the platform with festive wallpapers, New Year greetings, and shopping lists for the holiday season. Fashion trends, such as Jennie’s “Bagel Retro Look”, gained traction, influencing countless users to adopt a mix of vintage elegance with modern minimalism. Meanwhile, Nezha 2's massive success led to a surge in fan visits to the studio’s iconic statue, forcing its relocation due to overwhelming crowds. Additionally, a viral post about how “25 is just 7:30 AM in life” resonated with young professionals, encouraging self-growth over societal pressures, further showcasing Xiaohongshu’s role in shaping youth perspectives on success and lifestyle choices.
Baidu: Economic Policies, Entertainment Industry & Social Affairs
Baidu’s trending topics focused on national policies, financial strategies, and major entertainment updates. President Xi Jinping’s New Year speech outlined China’s economic vision for 2025, emphasizing domestic market expansion, urban-rural integration, and high-tech innovation. In the entertainment sector, Wu Qian’s dramatic post-divorce transformation sparked discussions on rebranding, female empowerment, and self-reinvention in China’s evolving celebrity culture. Meanwhile, Nezha 2's record-breaking success continued to dominate, with Shandong province contributing the most to its box office earnings, highlighting how regional consumer engagement plays a key role in shaping nationwide entertainment trends.
Zhihu: AI, Film Analysis & Social Debates
As a platform for intellectual discourse, Zhihu was filled with in-depth analyses on AI, film culture, and social issues. The CCTV Spring Festival Gala’s AI-generated performances, including robot dancers and virtual stage designs, led to debates on whether AI is enhancing or replacing human creativity. Meanwhile, Nezha 2's global expansion stirred controversy over a rumored translation blunder at its Hollywood premiere, igniting discussions on the importance of accurate cultural localization. However, a tragic case involving a high school teacher’s sexual assault leading to a student’s suicide sparked nationwide outrage, with users calling for education reform and stronger protections for student welfare.
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