As digital platforms become embedded in the everyday lives of internal migrants, they increasingly shape not only social interactions but also processes of cultural belonging. This study examines how dependency on WeChat contributes to community attachment among internal migrants in Xi’an, China, by conceptualizing the platform as a symbolic cultural space. Drawing on Media System Dependency (MSD) theory, the study explores three functional dimensions of WeChat use—Understanding, Orientation, and Play—and investigates how participatory communication moderates their effects on urban belonging. Using data from 355 migrant respondents and structural equation modeling (SEM), the study finds that all three dependency dimensions are positively associated with community attachment, with Orientation showing the strongest effect. Participatory communication significantly amplifies these relationships, suggesting that co-constructive engagement on WeChat enhances migrants’ symbolic and emotional integration. These findings position WeChat not only as a sociotechnical tool but as a cultural interface mediating identity, adaptation, and collective meaning-making. This research extends the MSD framework by integrating participatory and cultural dimensions, offering a more contextualized understanding of digital inclusion in non-Western urban contexts. Rather than viewing platform dependency as a sign of vulnerability, the study reframes it as a potential source of cultural resilience and belonging. Implications for digital citizenship and inclusive urban communication are discussed.
Liu et al. (2026) studied this question.