Cross-Cultural Student Teams Troubleshoot Challenges of Social Media & Social Comparison

Three teams competed in the China Center's sixth annual China Bridge Challenge, a case competition that invites cross-cultural student teams to tackle the challenges of the U.S.–China relationship and propose a solution based on a given theme. 

This year’s challenge asked students to focus on youth, social media, and social comparison, coming up with solutions that balanced the interests and objectives of both the U.S. and China. The cross-cultural teams were required to include a student from both the greater China area and the U.S., with at least one student from the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). 

Last fall, students registered for the competition and identified a faculty coach, then submitted proposals in late January. At the final event this February, the teams presented their solutions to a panel of judges.

But the challenge wasn’t simply a theoretical brainstorm; it was practice for real-world challenges that young leaders in both countries face. Competition judge Kenneth Bartlett, a professor in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, CEHD, explained to student teams that U.S.–China relations are too important to be left solely to politicians. “We need you, your generation, your enthusiasm, vision, and can-do attitude to propose new bridges between the United States and China.”

The winning team proposed a reality TV show called Parallel Lives that, in each episode, would showcase one participant from the U.S. and one from China who share a similar career path, lifestyle, or interest. At the end of each episode, participants would view each other’s days, then follow a guided reflection to evaluate realizations and misconceptions, thereby dissolving stereotypes, encouraging empathy, and helping to bridge China's values of social harmony and collective interests with the U.S.'s values of high conflict and individualism.

Aidan Lim, a member of the winning team, said that he is optimistic about future relations. “I am Chinese–American and really hope that these two countries can get along, rather than fight, in the future. I think it's important that we see the other side as real humans, with many of the same ambitions and concerns as us, that we could also learn a lot from.”

Another student from the winning team, Jean Xie, appreciated the unique, pertinent experience and recommended it to other students in the future. 

“This is a great opportunity to practice critical thinking skills, teamwork, and networking,” Xie said. “Students from all discipline[s] should participate in this challenge because it is very relevant to our country and diplomatic relationships.”

In the end, Bartlett praised the teams’ solutions and emphasized the importance of the U.S.–China relationship.

“[The] presentations made it clear that bridge building must recognize and indeed embrace new technologies, and especially social media,” said Bartlett. “China cannot be ignored – we must engage.”