Regulating the Internet has become a tough job for public opinion management in China. The Internet mirrors not only the complexity of Chinese society, but also the interactions between China and the world. It is a hodgepodge of ideas and opinions.
Stemming from Western society, the Internet has a Western cultural pattern that China has copied thoroughly. Friction and maladjustment inevitably take place as China syncs up with the Internet. This is bound to be a process of mutual change and compromise.
Recently, the West has slammed China for its "stern" Internet regulations. They hope China could keep the original Internet background of a Western social environment. They have aimed similar criticisms against other nonWestern countries. Some small countries have given up their efforts to localize the Internet, which actually demonstrates their acceptance of reform to the beat of a Western drum.
A rising China and the emergence of the Internet need to interact with each other. Between the two, neither confrontation nor one overwhelming the other is imaginable. The two have to integrate whatever the hurdles may be.
The Internet has brought so many benefits for China. Its rapid growth here proves that Chinese and Western societies share much more in common than previously imagined.
However, the Internet often calls for instant change in China, to narrow the gap between Chinese and Western societies. This is impractical, and the revision of some Internet rules inevitably take place. This is a natural and nearly instinctive need based on China's social reality. However, this need has often become politicized.
Each country needs to adjust some Internet rules based on its reality. The biggest problem facing China is that many complaints and appeals abruptly converge on the Internet, since the nation previously lacked a smooth channel for public expression.
The Internet has broken China's previous social calm, and forced society to proceed hurriedly in respect of issues like democracy. At the same time, the Internet provides a convenient way to spread rumors and magnify quibbles, which directly impacts upon China's social stability.
The adaptability and flexibility of Chinese society has proven strong over the past years. Some decisive regulation measures over the Internet were largely adopted during special periods or in places that witnessed social unrest.
No one saw these temporary measures as ideal they are more like costs that China has to take on in order to properly connect to the Internet.
In respect of China's social governance, it is an urgent task to seek better regulation measures and replace the existing crude ones.
China needs both the Internet and social stability. The two do not necessarily conflict with each other. They actually see much more fusion than friction, and China must try its best to press home this advantage.
