Qualitative interviews with Chinese scientist science communicators (n = 15) and citizen science communicators (n = 15) on Zhihu suggest that there is a struggle between the two groups to be seen as legitimate science communicators online. Public users tried to show their enthusiasm as science communicators, integrate into the circle of science communicators and blur the boundary between scientists and themselves. The participating scientists tend to discount such activity and indicate that they are more legitimate science communicators, possessing the requisite scientific literacy and noble personal morality.
Keywords: boundary-work; legitimacy; public engagement with science; qualitative interview; science communicator.