Digital Spirituality in Mainland China: Understanding Online Practices for Designing Culturally Relevant Spiritual Experiences CSCW013

Spiritual engagement is increasingly mediated by digital platforms, yet little is known about how this shift unfolds in non-Western contexts. In mainland China, individuals are turning to online social platforms like Douyin, WeChat, and Xiaohongshu to access spiritual content that blends religious, cultural, and philosophical traditions. In this paper, we present a mixed-methods study that combines a survey (N = 207) with in-depth interviews (N = 16) to examine how users engage with online spiritual content. The survey outlines general usage patterns across platforms, content types, and motivations, while the interviews reveal four key themes: the pragmatic use of spirituality to navigate emotional and material challenges; the flexible spiritual engagement; a cultural reconnection with spiritual heritage; and concerns over trust, authenticity, and regulation in the digital spiritual landscape. Based on these findings, we offer design implications for creating culturally grounded online spiritual experiences and contribute to HCI literature by advancing understanding of how sociotechnical systems can support spiritually meaningful engagement in diverse cultural contexts.