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Internet providing dual life for young Chinese citizens
In a country where political freedom, information and entertainment are often oppressed, young Chinese people are finding an alternate, more democratic society online.
The country has exploded with Internet users, reaching 210 million at the end of 2007, up over 50 per cent from 2006. A number that is increasing by 200,000 users per week, and rendering China the country with the second most Internet users in the world, soon to surpass the U.S. for number one, according to Morgan Stanley, an investment bank.
The Internet provides a place for media resources and self-expression in a country where news is censored and television is controlled by the state. Although the Internet is also controlled by the Chinese government to censor political issues, they have a tough time controlling the flow of pirated foreign media.
About 70 per cent of China's Internet users are young, under the age of 30. A lot of these users are looking for entertainment that they wouldn't get elsewhere in their everyday lives. Even though China's censors do an excellent job of restricting access to content that might cause political problems, they are strangely unable to stem the influx of pirated foreign media.
Richard Ji, an analyst at Morgan Stanley, says that in China the Internet fills the entertainment void for young Chinese people, providing social interaction and amusement for people under 30 who aren't able to fulfil their needs elsewhere.
As well as seeking free media, experts say that the Internet is now more commonly being used as a way to express freedom of speech for Chinese youth.
"They're basically citizens of this Internet. They almost have a virtual life as members of the Internet, that they don't actually enjoy, frankly, in the real world. Obviously, there is not a multiparty democracy here, there is not a free press, in that sense. But on the Internet, people can virtually achieve...they can make an impact," said Duncan Clark, analyst and Chairman of BDA, a telecommunications, media and technology adviser based in Beijing.
China also boasts the most amount of time spent on the Internet for youths with an average of 18.6 hours a week, compared to about 15.1 for youths in the U.S. As well, about 10 per cent of Chinese citizens between the ages of 13 and 30 are addicted to the Internet, according to the China Youth Association for Network Development (CYAND).
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