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China's microbloggers quadrupled in 2011, report says | China's microbloggers quadrupled in 2011, report says |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The number of microbloggers in China quadrupled in 2011, according to a think-tank report. | The number of microbloggers in China quadrupled in 2011, according to a think-tank report. |
Nearly half of China's 513 million netizens used weibo sites - Twitter equivalents - last year compared to 63 million in 2010, the China Internet Network Information Center report said. | Nearly half of China's 513 million netizens used weibo sites - Twitter equivalents - last year compared to 63 million in 2010, the China Internet Network Information Center report said. |
Chinese microbloggers took to the platform to voice opinions on protests, corruption scandals and major events. | Chinese microbloggers took to the platform to voice opinions on protests, corruption scandals and major events. |
The number of Internet users represents 38.3% of the 1.3bn population. | The number of Internet users represents 38.3% of the 1.3bn population. |
This jump in the number of microblog users has made it harder for China to impose strict controls on the web. | This jump in the number of microblog users has made it harder for China to impose strict controls on the web. |
Last year was a watershed year for users of weibo sites such as those run by Sina Corp and Tencent Holdings. | Last year was a watershed year for users of weibo sites such as those run by Sina Corp and Tencent Holdings. |
Major events such as the Wenzhou train crash in July, a hit-and-run that left a severely injured toddler to be ignored in the road and mass protests in Dalian and Wukan, among others, fuelled discussion on the sites. | Major events such as the Wenzhou train crash in July, a hit-and-run that left a severely injured toddler to be ignored in the road and mass protests in Dalian and Wukan, among others, fuelled discussion on the sites. |
Growing popularity | Growing popularity |
Late last year several Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, began requiring weibo users to register their real names. | Late last year several Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, began requiring weibo users to register their real names. |
Critics said this was an attempt to deter postings critical of the government and make it easier for such posts to be tracked. | Critics said this was an attempt to deter postings critical of the government and make it easier for such posts to be tracked. |
Microblogging services were also ordered to monitor content more closely and remove objectionable posts more quickly. | Microblogging services were also ordered to monitor content more closely and remove objectionable posts more quickly. |
The number of Internet users also rose 12.2% in 2010, according to the official data. | |
Users who go online via hand-held devices increased 17.5% from the previous year to 356 million last year - an indication of the growing popularity of such devices. | Users who go online via hand-held devices increased 17.5% from the previous year to 356 million last year - an indication of the growing popularity of such devices. |
Last Friday, angry customers waiting unsuccessfully to buy the iPhone 4S threw eggs at Apple's flagship Beijing store. | Last Friday, angry customers waiting unsuccessfully to buy the iPhone 4S threw eggs at Apple's flagship Beijing store. |
The report also said that the number of Internet users in rural areas also increased by 8.9% to 136 million. | The report also said that the number of Internet users in rural areas also increased by 8.9% to 136 million. |
However, there is still a huge disparity with web usage in the cities. | However, there is still a huge disparity with web usage in the cities. |
More than 70% of Beijing's population were online last year, compared to 24.2% of people in Guizhou, the poorest province in China. | More than 70% of Beijing's population were online last year, compared to 24.2% of people in Guizhou, the poorest province in China. |
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