What do we expect from presidential microblog?
- Source: Global Times
- [02:38 February 23 2010]
- Comments
By Wang Yuan
I am no longer the Internet trends insider I was several years ago.
I had heard of something new called a microblog, but I was not interested in learning about it until yesterday, when a piece of news captured my attention. It said that Chinese President Hu Jingtao had appeared on People's Daily Online's microblogging service.
I was very curious so at once I opened the website, attempting to have a look with my own eyes. With enthusiasm I worked out all the major functions of the microblog within 20 minutes and then became one of Hu's followers.
It seems that it's not a fake account, as it has been verified by the website. Though there was not a single word posted, his account has attracted over 16,000 followers, and the number was increasing every second.
All day, media were trying their best to dig out whether the account was set up by Hu himself or his assistants, and netizens have been awaiting his first post. After all, Chinese people have never been so close to one of their top leaders.
The microblog allows people to directly speak to the president at all times and places. It would have been unimaginable in the past, as taking a look at Mao Zedong was not easy, not to mention having a word with him.
Although nobody knows whether or when Hu will post something on his microblog, considering he used to say that he often surfed the Internet and liked to see what netizens were concerned about, netizens believe that they can be heard by Hu.
What netizens are exited at is more than having a possible chance to talk with the head of the country. As the top leader becomes a normal netizen among us, we see a government with more accessibility. Chinese people's civic awareness is increasing and they do not regard state leaders as gods any longer, while the leaders themselves are losing their secrecy.
Youth have adapted to the change faster. Shijin Fan and Babao Fan (informal Internet fan clubs of President Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao) have been spurred again, waiting for Hu's "hello" on his microblog, and even for an account by Wen to be set up. They sweetly call the state leaders "elder brothers," "boss," or other nicknames.
As youth are the future of Chinese political life, there are reasons to look forward to more openness in Chinese society some day.
I expect that one day, people will no longer be excited by things like leaders setting up a microblog account.
As a netizen said on People's Daily microblogging service, "Take it easy, everybody. He (Hu) was originally an ordinary person."
