Semiotic Misinterpretation and Public Sentiment Backlash: A Case Study of the 2026 CCTV Spring Festival Gala Copyright Statement
Abstract
In the context of digital media, the difference between official language and public interpretations often causes unexpected emotional reactions. This study takes the copyright statement incident of CCTV's Spring Festival Gala in 2026 as an example to explore the mechanism of symbolic misunderstanding and public emotional rebound in official speeches. In contrast, the classical copyright notice has been misunderstood by the general public opinion as a completely prohibitive sign of any possible secondary usage. According to the literature sources, people's emotions impact the ability to understand the meanings of certain symbols: the stronger the negative emotions, the higher the probability of misinterpreting those symbols, which were supposed to carry a positive message; in the case when people feel positive emotions or at least neutral, the chance of misinterpreting symbols which carried negative meanings is drastically enhanced. Undoubtedly, it can be seen that both negative emotions and symbol misunderstandings cause the backlash among people, and this proves a clear relationship between the two phenomena. Symbol misunderstanding is based on the lack of communication between people, on the action of algorithms, as well as on deeply rooted stereotypes of the general population. This study helps to get a better insight into the issues of misunderstanding associated with emotions and cognitions in public opinion.
References
- Li, W., & Wang, Y. (2025). The role of cognitive bias in the "discourse confrontation" and "dissolution" of online public opinion - take the movie "I am a Mountain" as an example. China Internet Communication Research, (01), 64–87+224–225.
- Li, M., & Kuang, Y. (2023). Cognitive bias of online public opinion under the background of big data: performance, causes and response. Journal of Southwest Minzu University (Humanities and Social Sciences Edition), 44(05), 138–143.
- Shen, Q. (2025). The dissemination and misunderstanding of artistic symbols in the cross-cultural context. Journal of Heihe University, 16(12), 126–129.
- Wu, H., Yu, H., & Yan, D. (2022). The impact of the opinion leader's emotional framework on the cognitive bias of the audience during the crisis. Information Science Journal, 41(07), 124–130+90.
- Cui, S., Cheng, M., Yuan, H., Deng, Y., & Li, K. (2026). Public Opinion, Sentiment, and Policy Feedback: An Exploratory Computational Text Analysis of Debates on Leave Compensation Policies on Chinese Social Media. Policy & Internet, April 02nd 2026.
- Stokan, E., Anson, I. G., & Jensen, N. M. (2025). When sunshine gets you down: The role of transparency on public sentiment toward the amazon HQ2 competition. Policy Studies Journal, April 03rd 2025.
- Bertenshaw, Z., Sibley, C. G., & Osborne, D. (2025). Patriotism Longitudinally Predicts Symbolic Projection of Indigenous Culture Yet Undermines Recognition of Historical Injustices. European Journal of Social Psychology, October 28th 2025.
- Yue, H., Yang, G., Bao, H., Bao, X., & Zhang, X. (2024). Linking negative cognitive bias to short-form video addiction: The mediating roles of social support and loneliness. Psychology in the Schools, June 26th 2024.
- Rowlands, K., Beaty, T., Simic, M., Grafton, B., Hirsch, C., Treasure, J., Cardi, V. (2022). Cognitive bias modification training of attention and interpretation to reduce expectations of social rejection in adolescents with eating disorders: A small efficacy randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Eating Disorders, September 22nd 2022.
- Li, M. (2022). The adjustment of social trust and Internet use on cognitive bias in social status: Perspective of performance perception. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, October 17th 2022.
- Filatotchev, I., Giarratana, M., Pasquini, M., & Valogianni, K. (2025). Challenges of Semiotic Abduction in Management Research. Journal of Management Studies, November 30th 2025.
- Rottinghaus, B. (2023). Intensity (and backlash) of opinion on civil rights and presidential responsiveness. Presidential Studies Quarterly, February 16th 2023.