Who Uses Douyin (or TikTok) in Taiwan? Evidence from a 2025 Online Survey

The rise of China-based social media platforms in Taiwan raises important questions about their influence on political attitudes and polarization. Among those emerging platforms, Douyin (抖音)—the Chinese version of the video-sharing application TikTok—has increasingly gained popularity. Given its algorithm-driven recommendation system and prevalence of pro-CCP content, it is crucial to examine usage patterns of Douyin in relation to individuals’ political identity and sociodemographic characteristics in Taiwan. Drawing on online survey data collected in 2025, our preliminary findings indicate that respondents who support unification, identify as Chinese, and support the KMT are more likely to use Douyin than their pan-Green counterparts. In terms of demographic profiles, we find that users residing in the Taipei and Keelung areas, males, and those with at least a junior high school education tend to spend more time on Douyin than users from other regions, females, and those with other educational backgrounds, respectively. This descriptive study contributes to the literature on political psychology and voting behavior by engaging with existing debates on partisan echo chambers across social media platforms and their impact on political attitudes and behaviors. Importantly, our findings highlight the need for future research on the political consequences of algorithmically driven and authoritarian-led media environments in democratic societies.