In this paper, we explored social media use driven by cultural identifcation in a context of diaspora. We conducted a questionnaire study of 253 Chinese students in the United States. We found a two-dimensional structure of cultural identifcation, and re-examined acculturation theory in terms of this structure. We found they had similar use patterns of Chinese and American social media, with different underlying mechanisms. We investigated the dynamics of social media use using cultural identifcation as antecedents, and found that 1. young diaspora’s endeavor to get assimilated into host culture with social media use tended to be superfcial, and 2. both homeland and host-country social media played a signifcant role to maintain ethnic identity. Such fndings advanced acculturation theory while also refned uses and gratifcation theories, and improved understandings of Chinese young diaspora from a view of cultural identifcation.