Conference Program

The collective memory of the Nanjing Massacre is increasingly being "re-mediated" within the digital infosphere, where digital power structures and algorithmic logic reshape historical consciousness. This study explores the tension between institutional historical education and decentralized digital discourses among youth in the Sinosphere (Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan).

The research first presents a comparative literature review of history textbooks, revealing a fundamental divergence in narrative framing: while Mainland Chinese curricula emphasize a "Victimization and Patriotism" perspective, narratives in Hong Kong and Taiwan lean towards "Universal Human Rights" and "Global War Trauma." This initial divergence creates a "cognitive baseline gap" among youth before they engage in digital interactions.

Building on this, the study incorporates a content analysis of contemporary discussions on Reddit. It examines how these pre-existing pedagogical frameworks collide in a decentralized digital environment characterized by polarization. Preliminary findings suggest that the lack of a shared narrative baseline makes young users vulnerable to digital disinformation and nationalist Echo Chambers, where historical trauma is frequently weaponized to fuel ideological division.

To address these challenges, this paper proposes a strategic "Narrative Literacy" framework as a practical intervention. Beyond traditional fact-checking, this framework equips digital citizens with the tools to deconstruct how digital platforms amplify conflicting historical frames. Furthermore, the study demonstrates how participatory "co-creation" tools can be utilized to facilitate cross-border dialogue, shifting the focus from defensive nationalism to a critical, multi-perspectival understanding of difficult heritage. By integrating these pedagogical strategies, the research offers a roadmap for fostering resilient and empathetic digital citizenship in an age of AI-driven polarization.