Platformized visibility and diverse discourses of depression discussions on Weibo

This study examines discursive dynamics of depression on Weibo and the digital visibility of depressive experiences. Building on critical discourse analysis (CDA), we develop a platformized discourse analysis approach that combines purposive stratified sampling across Weibo's visibility layers with CDA to examine how platform mechanisms shape the circulation and regulation of depression discourses.

The dataset comprises two policy documents, 300 posts, and 900 comments and reposts collected between January and August 2023 from four categories of visibility contexts, including state-media accounts, individual users, celebrity-related discussions, and depression-focused super-topic communities.

The findings reveal three main discourses: official timely detection and intervention, individual freely venting fragile sentiments, and community-connected resonance and rationalization.

This paper introduces the concept of "manifesting depressive agency" to describe the ongoing process through which individuals and communities claim, negotiate, and sustain the visibility and legitimacy of depressive experiences within platformized public discourse. By conceptualizing agency as continuous negotiation, this study advances understanding of how mental-health discourses emerge within the interplay of platform power, institutional governance, and user practices.