Framing Conflicts between “Expert Advice” and Public Interpretations: A Study of Youth Survival Pressure Topics on Weibo

Abstract

Under the background of social change, the pressure of young people’s survival is becoming more and more obvious. As a leading new media platform, Weibo has become the main battlefield where “expert advice” collides with young people’s understanding (even often conflicts). In the final analysis, this discourse difference is actually a conflict of different thinking frames. Based on framing theory, this study uses frame analysis as the main method to analyze five hot topics related to young people’s survival pressure from 2023 to 2025. Each topic has more than 10 million readings and more than 10,000 discussions. The study systematically compares the discourse frameworks adopted by experts and the public (mainly young users), and further discusses the hidden value conflicts behind these frameworks. It is found that expert discussion is mainly influenced by macro-rational orientation, and four frameworks are most commonly used, including individual responsibility. The public discussion pays more attention to life experience, mainly using the frameworks of critical resistance, structural attribution and survival realism. The two sides are obviously opposed in many aspects, and the root of the conflict is actually the difference of three layers of values. This research enriches the academic achievements in related fields, expands the application of framing theory, and also provides ideas for reducing discussion opposition and promoting a more constructive public discussion environment.