Could public opinions get drawn in a sea of online vioces ?
This is the season for people's congresses and political consultative conferences at all levels. To benefit from the increasingly powerful online public opinion, netizens are being encouraged to participate in the sessions and move proposals.
Such participation in matters of governance, especially in these sessions, has become popular of late. Netizens look upon it as a broad avenue for common people to participate in the deliberation and administration of state affairs.
For governments, this means adopting a new openness toward citizens. For media, this represents social progress and increasing transparency in governance.
These positive trends are in stark contrast to the comparatively poor communication between governments and citizens in preInternet China. Today, more than 384 million netizens are making their voices heard loud, and no one can neglect them. The Internet boom has revived and revitalized the communication channels.
However, in my opinion, this isn't the full picture.
Online public opinion, rather than traditional public opinion, is paid more and more attention. It seems that netizens' interests take priority in the public sphere. Is it because netizens make themselves heard? What of the silent majority? Online voices could deafen the opinions of the general public off line. (Edited from Global Times)