The Role of Social Media in Shaping the Sociocultural Adaptation of Mainland Chinese Students in Hong Kong

Abstract

Social media has become an essential part of the cross-cultural adaptation mechanism in the framework of digital globalization. More and more mainland Chinese students chose to continue their higher education in Hong Kong in the recent past, where they unavoidably come across a number of cultural adjustment-related issues. The complex situation of social-cultural adaptation is formed under the influence of Hong Kong's unique media environment, which connects both Mainland China and international media outlets. A broad body of research has been conducted at home and abroad on issues related to crosscultural adaptation, which mainly focus on aspects such as language barriers, lack of social support, and feelings of psychological stress among expatriates. There are not many studies that focus on the mediating role of social media, particularly for Hong Kong's special administrative region and its mainland Chinese student group, which is culturally distinct from other places. Through in-depth analysis of the influence on students' adaptation to the new social environment caused by different social media usage behaviours, this study will fill the void in current research and provide theoretical support for the cultivation of students' social-cultural adaptation capabilities. Based on the research results, it can be concluded that better cultural adaptability is significantly related to increased use of social media; Users who favour international social media platforms, such as Facebook; And those who actively acquire cross-cultural knowledge and information through various channels. According to Kim's Cross-Cultural Adaptation Theory, an open information environment helps with adaptation, and social media provides essential resources for students to cross information obstacles and obtain localised content. International platforms also promote social learning and integration better due to the diverse contents they offer and enhanced local connections. This study offers practical implications for educators and policymakers in multicultural academic settings