W11 - What Social Media is Like in China :o
How Important is Social Media to the World Today
Even before the pandemic hit, we were already super tied to social media. After the pandemic hit, the first thing we wake up is to check on the news. Reason being, everyone has nothing better to do at home than scrolling through their screens. To look through news such as politics, social activisms and many more. Moreover, many countries has the freedom to post, search and read on the stuff they want on social media with no limitations. However, it is different for citizens in China.
China’s Social Media = WeiBo / WeChat
According to Lu (2021), Beijing has been keeping their social sphere sealed from social media such as Facebook and Twitter while cultivating what has to become a dynamic social media ecosystem. WeChat in China has over a billion monthly users. It is a messaging service, however have become all-encompassing (means covering almost everything). You are able to play games, take out loans, make purchase, order food delivery and car services, book flights and many more. Though they do not have the social media platforms that we have, their WeChat platform pretty much has everything. China is a very evolved country.
China’s Way
China’s citizens has the freedom of speech and press, however China authorities are able to pin down stories of citizens from the opacity of media regulations (Xu & Albert 2017). Citizens must be careful and sensitive to what they say and post in public especially when it is related to politics. Moreover, materials that is considered a threat to political stability will be auto banned, that includes photos, videos and search terms (Xu & Albert 2017). China’s are so advanced that their security cameras has face recognition and each citizens has an amount of points. If the points are deducted to a certain amount, they will be banned from certain shops or do certain tasks. Which brings this back to the freedom statement, ‘citizens has the freedom of speech’? I do not think so.
China’s Citizen Missing Out (Sucks to be you)
Due to China’s ‘overprotectiveness’ citizens in China are not able to participate in many activities / social events that is happening around the world. They are not able to expand their knowledge on the things that are on the other side. Other than that, the hypocrisy of allowing them to have the freedom to speak and post freely on the internet is pure hokum. Yet they keep track on every move they make on social media and censor what they believe can be a threat.
Conclusion from GC
In conclusion, there should be a better way in for China to control the censorship and limitations instead of just censoring without letting their citizens know or choose. They may have their reasons to why they are strict in this area, but the way they try to control and forcing the citizens to be on the same track as them is a little too harsh for me. There is just no privacy where you would constantly feel ‘naked’ almost. For example, I personally experienced with Facebook warning me about using some ugly languages at the comment sections (I was not bullying okay I was using a term to call my friends and it was considered as a threat / cyber bullying), they asked if I would consider to delete the comment or I might get suspended if I continue to do it. So there is a choice for the user, if they do not follow the rules then they should get punished because they were warned. Instead of ‘overprotecting’ the citizens from sensitive issues or issues that might caused chaos to the society. Allow them to have the choice is better than just deleting without consent. However, as an Asian I kinda understand the overprotectiveness so... xD.
References
Lu, C 2021, ‘China’s Social Media Explosion’, Foriegn Policy, 11 November, viewed on 24 November 2021, <https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/11/11/china-social-media-tech-linkedin-wechat-censorship-privacy-regulation/>.
Xu, B & Albert, E 2017, ‘Media Censorship in China’, Council Foreign Relations, 17 February, viewed on 24 November 2021, <https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/media-censorship-china>.












