Abstract
This quantitative content analysis compares global brands' use of communication styles and brand anthropomorphism between two leading culturally different micro blogging sites, Twitter in the United States and Sina Weibo in China. Results show that, despite some differences, communication styles on both sites are more task-oriented than socioemotional-oriented. However, global brands adopt more "give suggestions" style (task-oriented) on Twitter but apply more "tension reduction" communication style (socioemotional-oriented) on Weibo. As for brand anthropomorphism strategies, global brands use more "first and second personal pronouns" on Twitter but more "nonverbal cues and consumer nicknames" on Weibo. By applying Interaction Process Analysis (i.e., task- and socioemotional-oriented communication styles) and brand anthropomorphism frameworks to culturally different social media settings, this study extends our current understandings of how global brands use social media to communicate with their publics.