China-West internet traffic trends and the role of interdisciplinary research
This publication is part of a series of blog posts written by research apprentices, offering reflections on their experiences and insights gained during their time at the DIGISILK project
In summer 2024 I had the opportunity to participate in the King's Undergraduate Research Fellowship (KURF) program, a transformative journey that has made me much more confident. I have gained valuable research experience and, more importantly, discovered a newfound understanding of my capabilities and potential.
My decision to apply for the KURF program was driven by my curiosity about real-world research and a desire to explore my future path, whether it involves further academic pursuits or a career in the industry. At the time, I was a computer science student in the Department of Informatics, and being Taiwanese and having lived in China for several years, I had first-hand exposure to Chinese digital ecosystems. This made me curious about the tech sector in China, prompting me to apply to be a research apprentice with the DIGISILK team. I believed that my intercultural perspective could provide a fresh angle to this research, and I saw this project as a chance to move beyond computer science and try something within new areas, spanning business, finance or even humanities.
China-West internet traffic trends
During my research fellowship, I delved into the complex world of internet traffic and connectivity patterns. This project aimed to investigate similarities and differences in internet traffic between Chinese and Western applications, a topic of significant importance in the digital age. My research involved data collection, analysis, and coding.
Under the guidance of James Burroughs, the project’s digital methods researcher, I formulated research questions and hypotheses concerning internet traffic trends. Data collection involved scraping from various sources, which required programming skills, followed by an analysis of the frequency and type of internet traffic across various applications.
Our findings revealed distinct trends in popularity and connectivity patterns spanning three years. Between 2018 and 2021, we observed platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Xiaohongshu (小红书) – often referred to as the "Chinese Instagram" –, and Zhifubao/Alipay (支付宝) – China's leading online payment platform – becoming increasingly popular. Our analysis revealed that the back-end of WeChat international and WeChat China versions was very similar, with the former being updated more frequently, perhaps to comply with different laws in different countries (although this is not something that we can tell for sure from a code analysis). Moreover, TikTok and Douyin (抖音) – TikTok's Chinese counterpart and the original version of the app – displayed distinct API usage patterns, with the former relying heavily on Google APIs. We also found that, aside from TikTok and Douyin, other Chinese applications demonstrated a higher frequency and volume of Google API usage compared to their Western counterparts.
Collaborative research effort
The research project facilitated collaboration with a team of colleagues. In my initial encounter with this project, I felt nervous as I stepped into the world of research for the first time, and the pressure was palpable. Despite having past experiences related to the topic at hand, I questioned my ability to provide meaningful contributions. Fortunately, I had an encouraging supervisor who played a crucial role in helping me overcome my initial apprehensions. With the unwavering support and guidance of James and Elisa Oreglia, and the camaraderie of my fellow KURF researchers, I gradually found my footing. I realised that research is not confined to individual brilliance but it is a collaborative and collective effort. Every team member played a unique role, and I discovered that my background and perspective offered valuable contributions to our shared endeavour.
I found confidence through encouragement from my supervisors and felt like an integral part of the team as I shared my research findings and points of view. I also engaged in discussions that crossed disciplinary boundaries and found myself making complex information more accessible, which was vital in boosting my self-confidence. I realised that my contributions were just also as significant even though I am an undergraduate student.
Academic and personal growth
This research fellowship opened the door for me to apply my skills in data handling and analysis to a new research domain. The interdisciplinary nature of this project bridged the gap between technology and business fields of knowledge, fostering both personal and professional growth. I developed my critical thinking abilities through the evaluation and reasoning of research findings. I learned to adapt to evolving circumstances and embrace the inherent ambiguity of research. This transformative experience not only provided insights into internet traffic's current state of affairs but also propelled personal growth. It solidified my belief in the importance of interdisciplinary research and the collaborative nature of academic exploration. I've gained confidence, learned the importance of collaboration, and now I have a clearer vision of my future path. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this research project, and I thank my supervisors for their guidance and support.
Chun-I Chien is an international Computer Science student from Taiwan and joined the DIGISILK team in the summer of 2023.