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Percentage of Chinese population using the Internet is lower than global average

China is one of the most heavily populated countries in the world, but it is also has a large proportion of poor citizens without access to technology. As a result of the huge numbers of Chinese citizens the number of internet users in China is growing rapidly.

The Chinese government commonly censors the Internet and has only recently begun allowing Chinese citizens to have access to English-language websites. According to numbers released from the Chinese Ministry of Information, China now has 221 million internet users. This number is up significantly from the end of 2007 when China reported 210 million internet users.

At the end of 2007 the U.S. had 205 million internet users. The Chinese Xinhua News Agency quoted the Chinese Information Ministry as saying, “Despite rapidly increasing the Internet population, the proportion of Internet users among the total population is still lower than the global average level.”

The global average for percentage of Internet users in a country is 19.1%; China only has an average of 16%. Chinese authorities expect to have 280 million internet users by the end of 2008.

The internet is an outlet for Chinese citizens to voice opinions in a country where traditional new media is strictly controlled. The lack of control over the internet compared to the control China exerts on other forms of media led Chinese President Hu Jintao to call for a purification of the internet in 2007.

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By NoMediaDistortion on 4/24/2008 6:13:14 PM , Rating: 1
Why does every news related to China have to mention something like censorship, human rights, etc?
What if every news related to US would mention IRAQ wars?

As to censorship, maybe CNN is independent. But CNN can selectively report only one side of the story. For example, the recent Tibet riot. It was a RIOT which you may think was a peaceful protest because CNN didn't let you see it. See the following video taken by an Australia tourist in Tibet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhjCX4KIz4Q

Do you ever see that video broadcasted on CNN or any other mainstream media? If CNN always only tell one side of the story, is that a censorship?




By hp540 on 4/24/2008 6:37:08 PM , Rating: 5
You can spend all day complaining about Western media bias in its coverage of recent China-related events but at the end of the day, you can't deny China has a lousy human rights track record, often draconian censorship, and a stifling environment for press freedom that is intolerant of media criticism. Before anyone says it's just as bad in the West, I might be willing to agree in some cases but that kind of thinking leads to nowhere.

Don't forget, less than 20 years ago, the Communist party was mowing down student 'rioters' in Tiannamen Square. Sure, the skyscrapers in Shanghai are taller and shinier now and there's a growing Chinese middle class, but all of these just hide the fact that while there's greater economic freedom, everything else has remained the same.


By hp540 on 4/24/2008 9:40:01 PM , Rating: 2
You sound like a Communist China propaganda robot, or at least someone foolish enough to believe whatever the media feeds you (whether it be pro US / pro China).

It is ironic your name is "NoMediaDistortion" yet you buy completely into the other distorted reporting of the story, one I don't doubt championed by the Chinese politburo.

Just remember: what might be seen as a violent "riot" by one side, may just as easily be seen as a protest/outburst of popular discontent by the other. A Tibetan "terrorist" to China, freedom fighters against oppression and occupation by others.

I'm sure you've noted just a short while ago, the Burmese government similarly crushed a popular uprising in their country, led primarily by monks. While the Burmese gov't label them as 'terrorists', do you honestly feel a group of unarmed monks are terrorists?


By aquaibm on 4/27/2008 12:55:32 AM , Rating: 2
Poor Americans,you guys were just afraid of Chinese Renaissance and will take the embarrassment as China faces today in just a few years later.Communist China propaganda robot? What the heck are you talking about? We are just protesters of western-media distortion.


By Min Jia on 4/24/2008 9:36:43 PM , Rating: 3
Thing is the majority of people in China don't really mind being controlled and censored by their government as long as the country and its economy remain stable , and in fact, most of the population support the CCP's actions. The recent voluntary,unprompted mass boycott against French goods is an example. Obviously freedom of speech and freedom of the press are not of the utmost concern to the average Chinese.


By imaheadcase on 4/24/2008 9:58:06 PM , Rating: 2
Make no mistake, China "censorship" is not that bad with the internet like media outlets take place. Every kid in china knows where to go if they want to surf the net without censorship.

Same way in the states how every teenage kid knows how to score weed.

He is right though, everything positive about China turns into a human rights slap fest.

But you are right, most people in China don't care about being communist. Lots of "americanized" Chinese here in the US still have it in them.


By lompocus on 4/25/2008 9:19:58 PM , Rating: 1
you forgot the fact that the sanghai towers were designed and built by american companies, along with the fact that their middle class is more likely poorer than our lower class citizens.

China still sucks. America rules you life still. We always will. If not, we'll totally nuke you!


By xymeet on 4/27/2008 12:38:25 AM , Rating: 1
fully bull shit. you know nothing about China! You even misspelt shanghai. Stop your stupid guessing before you really go there and see...


I wonder how this will play out
By eye smite on 4/24/2008 1:10:07 PM , Rating: 2
I'm thinking the Chinese Gov't is steadily looking at ways to control their internet if they're still following old doctrine, although it doesn't seem like they are completely. Allowing that many people on the internet there with it increasing drastically every month is quite frankly the biggest reform I've seen out of China in decades.




By FITCamaro on 4/24/2008 1:37:27 PM , Rating: 3
They already do control the internet. They censor sites, they monitor blogging, they control how much their citizens play online games, they require registration at internet cafes, etc. How is that not control?


RE: I wonder how this will play out
By silhrt on 4/24/2008 5:03:25 PM , Rating: 2
It's not reform... it's either let them have full access or no Olympics.


RE: I wonder how this will play out
By gudodayn on 4/24/2008 9:17:53 PM , Rating: 2
Have you tried accessing the WWW from within China??
Tell you what, book a ticket to China and take your laptop with you. Check into a hotel room with WWW access and now try to access every single one of your "My Favorites" websites..........and you'll have to get out of China to post on Anandtech, so go to Taiwan or something and post your results!!

And yes, with all the arguements discussed here.......people within China can't access this site anyway!!


RE: I wonder how this will play out
By eion on 4/25/2008 1:24:42 AM , Rating: 2
Can't access or post on Anandtech from within China? That's news to me (and no, I'm not using a proxy). In fact, I don't ever recall having a problem accessing Anandtech from within China.

While I'm not defending Internet censorship in the PRC, it has been getting better recently - I assume because of the Olympics. Over the past couple of months BBC News, Wikipedia and Blogspot have all been opened up. The main problem with the Internet in China as far as I'm concerned is the speed (or total lack of it).


By Trevor Yao on 4/25/2008 5:45:11 AM , Rating: 2
Oh really? How do I come here?


RE: I wonder how this will play out
By xymeet on 4/27/2008 12:41:22 AM , Rating: 2
This is SO not true!


Aha ! Plot unfoiled
By Reclaimer77 on 4/24/2008 1:34:12 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
Chinese President Hu Jintao to call for a purification of the internet in 2007.


Clearly China is working with Comcast.




RE: Aha ! Plot unfoiled
By FITCamaro on 4/24/08, Rating: 0
RE: Aha ! Plot unfoiled
By Reclaimer77 on 4/24/2008 1:52:18 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
Please do not relate the massive censorship and control of the internet that China undertakes to Comcast wanting to throttle traffic.


Complete control and censorship always starts with one or two small compromises and grows from there. Today its traffic throttling, tomorrow its site or service blocking. And from there, who knows.


RE: Aha ! Plot unfoiled
By clovell on 4/24/08, Rating: -1
RE: Aha ! Plot unfoiled
By Reclaimer77 on 4/24/2008 2:07:28 PM , Rating: 2
Funny, when I think Communism I don't think ' internet access ' either.


RE: Aha ! Plot unfoiled