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Markle Foundation
Recent research: Most Chinese Net users say they want their Internet "controlled." |
Guo Liang, a leading researcher on the Chinese Internet at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has released a
new report on Net usage in seven Chinese cities. The conclusions are interesting, although seldom surprising.
I went through the highlights first. Here are my picks:
- An overwhelming majority (more than 80 percent) want government control on the Internet. Their greatest concerns: porn, violence and spam. However, 41 percent also desire political control (up from eight percent in 2005). Support for the control of chatting increased from eight percent in 2005 to 28 percent in 2007.
- Because of the availability of cheap broadband, most people surf from their homes (80 percent). The classic image of male students hitting the internet from smoky internet cafe's has decreased (32 percent).
- Chinese Internet users mainly focus on entertainment content -- and they seem to prefer entertainment news to other kinds of news. This echoes earlier findings.
- Search engine usage has grown from 43 percent in 2005 to 79 percent in 2007, suggesting a better usage of the Internet.
- Chinese Internet users spend less time watching TV or reading print publications -- but surprisingly the time they spend on face-to-face contacts has held steady.
China's middle name is actually "Control" or "Embargo." How about...
