Chinese Signals

China’s 10 Biggest Social Media Stories of 2025

From top trends to platform scandals, these were the biggest online topics of the year.

Published

8 months ago

December 30, 2025

Entering 2026, let’s take this time to reflect on a year of social media in China and the most noteworthy trending stories.

This is a list of major controversies & online moments that not only went completely viral but were also intrinsically connected to China’s social media sphere, either because they blew up on Weibo, originated on Douyin, or would not have even come to light if it weren’t for Xiaohongshu or other Chinese…

Related Topics:china top 10 Chinese social media explainer featured mustread premium

Up Next

China’s 2025 Year in Review in 12 Phrases

Don't Miss

Why Were 100,000 Pregnant Women’s Blood Samples Smuggled Out of China?

Manya Koetse

Manya Koetse is a sinologist, writer, and public speaker specializing in China’s social trends, digital culture, and online media ecosystems. She founded What’s on Weibo in 2013 and now runs the Eye on Digital China newsletter. Learn more at manyakoetse.com or follow her on X, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Click to comment

China Brands, Marketing & Consumers

Hasan Piker’s China Trip & the Unexpected Journey of a Chinese School Uniform to Angola

Hasan Piker’s controversial China tour, a Chinese school uniform resurfaces in Africa, a new winter hotspot, why Chinese elites ‘run’ to Tokyo, and more.

Published

9 months ago

November 21, 2025

Manya Koetse

🌊 Signals — Week 47 (2025)
Part of Eye on Digital China, Signals highlights slower trends and online currents behind the daily scroll. This edition was sent to paid subscribers — subscribe to receive the next issue in your inbox.

Welcome to another edition of Eye on Digital China. Different from the China Trend Watch (check the latest one hereif you missed it), this edition, part of the new Signals series,…

China Society

How Female Comedians Are Shaping China’s Stand-Up Boom

Female comedians are taking center stage in a new era of Chinese stand-up, challenging stereotypes and turning jokes into real-life impact.

Published

12 months ago

August 30, 2025

Wendy Huang

Nearly 40% of the lineup on China’s latest hit stand-up comedy shows is female. From ‘Director Fang’ to Wang Yue, this wave of new voices is not just funny—it’s reshaping China’s comedy scene and opening conversations once considered off-limits.

The summer of 2025 has once again put Chinese stand-up comedy in the spotlight. The second season of both iQiyi’s The King of Stand-up Comedy (喜剧之王单口季) and Tencent Video’s Stand-up Comedy and Friends(脱口秀和Ta的朋友们) sparked…