Social Media and East Asian Cultural Appropriation

Lines are blurrier now than they have ever been, and with social media increasing communication and the exchange of ideas, these lines are becoming more important to know whether to cross. One major area of discussion for much of history is the interaction between different cultures and societies. In the past decade specifically, people have begun to focus on a particular line: the one between cultural appropriation and appreciation. Stemming from eras of colonialism, cultural appropriation can be defined as “adopting an object, symbol, behaviour or ritual practice from a culture that is marginalised, oppressed or poor… without making any attempt to understand its cultural, social or spiritual significance” (“Cultural”). Because of its similarity to the simple and beneficial exchange of culture that occurs naturally, intentions become a vital piece of the puzzle. There is a difference between wearing a Japanese kimono for its aesthetic value and wearing one while attempting to understand its historical and cultural significance, and it is always necessary to make that distinction . As the world becomes increasingly globalized and connected at incredible speeds, it also becomes increasingly important to determine boundaries, because although cultural exchange can be beneficial, many other issues start to present themselves due to social media.

One area of major traditional importance is cuisine. It is present in everyday life and during events that hold great value in society, but food is also easily transported and popularized, especially through platforms like social media. In recent years, bubble tea has attracted massive adoration far beyond its birthplace in Taiwan, with shops opening across the globe. During an episode of the show “Dragon’s Den”, which allows entrepreneurs to pitch their businesses to potential investors, the founders of Bobba described their brand as “a convenient, healthier, ready-to-drink” alternative (“Actor”). One of the possible investors witnessing the proposal was actor Simu Liu, who questioned the company’s founders about whether they were aware of their product’s Taiwanese roots and ultimately spoke out about the necessity of educating people about the acceptable and unacceptable things to do from a cultural perspective (“Actor”). The incident displays the attention beginning to be directed towards cultural appropriation, with much reaction from audiences on social media (“Actor”). They were ultimately a key reason Bobba’s founders were forced to face the consequences of their ignorance, as public pressure is typically effective and social media platforms allow that to occur much more often. Everyone can speak their mind online, and, in this specific case, the minds of the people helped prove points and enforce consequences. Another benefit of this kind of communication is the connection diasporic communities can form over long distances to maintain their culture and remain connected to their home countries (Idrees et al). These communities are able to preserve traditions and prevent the loss of identity and culture over time as people continue to move around the world.

However, social media poses possible negative consequences as well, because although the diffusion of ideas into other societies is oftentimes welcome, the ease at which information is spread causes discrepancies that can be harmful if not dealt with. Anyone can post anything they like on the Internet, and when over half of teenagers get their news at least a few times per week from social media platforms, any misinformation can have lasting impacts (“New”). Orientalism is when Western media patronizingly depicts East Asian culture as exotic and inferior, and Anne Anlin Cheng’s theory of ornamentalism takes it a step further to romanticize that culture, describing the “yellow woman” being dehumanized or fetishized and forced to turn to aestheticization (Hu). This similar sentiment, though less feminine-focused, is aided by the Korean wave and K-pop, dominating social media globally and highlighting “perfect” idols that keep the glamourized image of East Asians imprinted in the minds of anyone stumbling across that media. Although at first glance these thoughts do not seem to be negative, stereotypes and generalization of any sort are harmful. Just like the common misconception that all Asians are good at math, the romanticization of East Asians through social media and other forms of art create an illusion of a model minority that, at its roots, is designed to pit minorities against each other and keep white supremacists on top.

Social media has facilitated the exchange of so much culture in the past decades at a speed unmatched at any point in history. With this increased connection comes an increase in the mistreatment of less prominent cultures, whether intentional or not. Whether the trend is matcha drinks or being in “a very Chinese time of their lives”, separating a tradition from its culture involves oversimplification and commodification that can be varying degrees of inappropriate and disrespectful. On the other hand, media like Japanese anime or Korean dramas spark interest that can cause audiences to learn more about their cultures and therefore become more respectful, not to mention the connections between dispersed communities that are made possible by this increased globalization. Ultimately, one’s culture is not another’s costume, and we should stop allowing it to be.

Works Cited

"Actor Simu Liu Calls out Boba Company over Cultural Appropriation." Washingtonpost.com, 14 Oct. 2024. Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A812233825/OVIC?u=berw2747&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=cec25ab8. Accessed 20 May 2026.

"Cultural Appropriation versus Appreciation." The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, Australia), 28 Oct. 2023, p. 8. Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A770453456/OVIC?u=berw2747&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=fc132844. Accessed 20 May 2026.

Hu, Jane. "Orientalism, Redux." Victorian Studies, vol. 62, no. 3, spring 2020, pp. 460-73. ProQuest Central Student, https://doi.org/10.2979/victorianstudies.62.3.07. Accessed 26 May 2026.

Idrees, Usman, et al. "Social Media Platforms as Tools of Global Cultural Exchange." Research Journal for Social Affairs, vol. 3, no. 5, 18 Aug. 2025. Scilit, https://doi.org/10.71317/RJSA.003.05.0363. Accessed 27 May 2026.

"New Survey Reveals Teens Get Their News from Social Media and YouTube." Common Sense Media, 12 Aug. 2019, www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/new-survey-reveals-teens-get-their-news-from-social-media-and-youtube. Accessed 27 May 2026.

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