The Myth of Genetically Modified Foods: Public Debates Over Risks, Opportunities, and Responsible Parties on Chinese Social Media

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Interactive Paper Session: Mass Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Public audience now can deliver and share their opinions of any given issue in society on social media. Through a content-analytic project, we investigated the public discussion about GM foods on a leading microblogging platform in China. Our research is a pioneering study exploring the presentations of risks, opportunities, and responsibilities associated with GM foods and their safety. We provided the most current and important evidence to document the societal resistance against GM foods and answered the question of who were held responsible to warrant the safety of GM foods.

Authors

• Nan Yu, North Dakota State University

• Qian Xu, Elon University