Breaking the deadlock and reshaping: algorithmic narrative drives short videos to enhance China's international communication power and national image construction

Abstract

This paper focuses on the core issue of how algorithmic storytelling drives short videos to enhance China's international communication power and national image construction, conducting research against the backdrop of digital technological transformation and the globalisation of short video dissemination. First, it analyses the technical-content interaction mechanisms driving algorithmic narrative-driven short video international communication, including the technical architecture of algorithmic systems such as data collection, analysis, and personalised recommendations; the evolution of narrative strategies under algorithmic guidance in terms of precision, emotional resonance, and structural simplicity; and the dissemination pathways achieved through initial circle penetration and the identification of connection points between circles via algorithmic recommendations. Through three case studies—TikTok, Li Ziqi's short videos, and CCTV News' short videos—the paper concretely demonstrates the practical effectiveness of algorithmic narratives in the international dissemination of short videos. For instance, TikTok's global promotion of Chinese cultural elements, Li Ziqi's shaping of China's rural and traditional cultural image, and CCTV News' international dissemination of China's development across multiple fields. Additionally, the paper identifies current challenges, including technical issues such as algorithmic black boxes and recommendation biases, content-related challenges like cultural adaptation and symbolic misinterpretation, and institutional challenges such as platform governance and international regulatory constraints. Finally, it proposes a collaborative optimisation pathway for constructing a culturally sensitive algorithmic narrative system, including the development of culturally adapted algorithms, the construction of a multi-dimensional narrative matrix, and the establishment of an ‘government-platform-audience’ interactive framework, aiming to provide insights for enhancing China's international communication capabilities and shaping a positive national image.