
Contending Over Uncertainty
The Social Construction and Diffusion of GMO Risk Discourse on Chinese Social Media
Xiaoxiao Cheng(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 4. February 2026
Book
Hardback
192 pages
978-1-041-14119-8 (ISBN)
Description
Focusing on a decade of controversy surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in China, this book provides a rigorous, mixed-method analysis of how risk discourses are constructed and disseminated on the social media platform Weibo.
The book uncovers the rich diversity of competing risk frames and reveals how digital platforms can democratize the negotiation of scientific uncertainty, yet also fragment public deliberation and discussion, leading to the reinforcement of new power dynamics and discursive inequalities. Breaking down the mechanisms behind the viral spread of GMO risk information, it examines how message features, contextual factors (e.g., source credibility), network structures, and social contagion processes shape what we believe and share. Ultimately, it will advance a deeper understanding of digital risk communication in increasingly platform-mediated societies.
It is an essential resource for science policymakers, risk communication professionals, and other stakeholders seeking to navigate the complexities of risk and uncertainty in the digital age.
The book uncovers the rich diversity of competing risk frames and reveals how digital platforms can democratize the negotiation of scientific uncertainty, yet also fragment public deliberation and discussion, leading to the reinforcement of new power dynamics and discursive inequalities. Breaking down the mechanisms behind the viral spread of GMO risk information, it examines how message features, contextual factors (e.g., source credibility), network structures, and social contagion processes shape what we believe and share. Ultimately, it will advance a deeper understanding of digital risk communication in increasingly platform-mediated societies.
It is an essential resource for science policymakers, risk communication professionals, and other stakeholders seeking to navigate the complexities of risk and uncertainty in the digital age.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Postgraduate and Professional Reference
Illustrations
10 s/w Tabellen, 7 s/w Zeichnungen, 7 s/w Abbildungen
10 Tables, black and white; 7 Line drawings, black and white; 7 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
452 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-041-14119-8 (9781041141198)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Xiaoxiao Cheng
Contending Over Uncertainty
The Social Construction and Diffusion of GMO Risk Discourse on Chinese Social Media
E-Book
02/2026
Routledge
€60.49
Available for download

Xiaoxiao Cheng
Contending Over Uncertainty
The Social Construction and Diffusion of GMO Risk Discourse on Chinese Social Media
E-Book
02/2026
Routledge
€60.49
Available for download
Person
Xiaoxiao Cheng is the Assistant Professor and Associate Research Fellow at the College of Media and International Culture, Zhejiang University. He holds a PhD from Tsinghua University. His research interests include science/environmental/risk communication, computational social science, and media effect studies.
Content
1: The Plurality and Shifting of Framing GMO Risks 2: Networked Framing of GMO risks and Discussion Fragmentation: A Dynamic Perspective 3: Understanding the Viral Spread of GMO Risk Information 4: Echo Chambers and Homophily in the Diffusion of GMO Risk Information