Twitter diplomacy

[2] As Constance Duncombe (University of Copenhagen) points out, Twitter does not simply provide yet another platform for dialogue between states but "challenges traditional notions of diplomacy according to which it occurs through formal channels of communication and informal face-to-face social engagements.

[...] Twitter has two significant positive effects on foreign policy: it fosters a beneficial exchange of ideas between policymakers and civil society and enhances diplomats' ability to gather information and to anticipate, analyze, manage, and react to events.

[12][13] In early 2014, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani decided to delete a controversial tweet relating to the country's nuclear energy program that received media attention.

[16] Former US President Barack Obama is credited as being the first head of state to establish a Twitter account, originally affiliated with his 2008 presidential campaign, on March 5, 2007, as user number 813,286.

[33][34] These accounts share statements, press releases, and official documents, ensuring that China's perspective is heard by a global audience.

Scholars point out that Chinese diplomats digitalized the so-called "panda diplomacy" on Twitter[35] and hijack hashtags used by human rights activists, such as #Tibet or #Xinjiang, by posting attractive visuals or human-interest stories.

Chinese diplomats have adeptly utilized Twitter to provide real-time updates, disseminate official statements, and elucidate China's stance.

[37][38][33][39] Chinese diplomats have extended their adept use of social media platforms beyond Twitter, employing a multifaceted approach to engage with global audiences.

In similar fashion, they actively leverage platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok to reach a diverse range of individuals worldwide.