Elitist microblogs promote celebrity opinions
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It was those registered elites who then attracted enormous numbers of people to microblogs. Actress Yao Chen, for example, boasts more than 8 million followers on her microblog. A pyramid-like structure has been formed, with the elite at the top and the public at the bottom.
This structure causes at least two problems. The wrong messages released by elites are much more damaging, as listening to elites is many people's exact reason for joining microblogs. This is also partly due to the lack of law enforcement against libeling rumors.
Voices from the bottom levels of society are significantly less heard. Contrary to many people's belief, it is much more difficult for someone to let their grievance be heard on microblogs than on a traditional forum like tianya.com.
The fundamental problem posed to Internet idealists, to which so far there isn't a satisfactory solution, is that information does compete. So, how can we ensure the good and correct information wins due respect and outstrips the harmful and incorrect information?
How can we ensure there's constructive and respectful discussion on microblogs rather than abusive language?
People regard microblogs as a fair platform for opinions simply because they allow everybody to join in and post, and it seems so that ordinary microbloggers are broadcasting like professional journalists, with more advantages. This is a misconception.
Yes, microbloggers don't need to meticulously edit the story, as well as to verify the story. They don't need to worry about creditability, as their popularity grows with the sensation of their posts and their false reports are rarely recorded – they can simply delete their posts without publishing a rectification.
Besides, honest people cannot speak effectively unless their posts are picked up and retweeted by elite microbloggers. But many savage posters can freely abuse others and turn the discussion into chaos. The mechanisms of microblogging, which encourages interaction among users, exacerbates the problem.
These are the reasons that microbloggs remain a dubious appendage to traditional media. It seems that popular participation doesn't mean sound judgment and fair play. If we believe microblogs can profoundly contribute to social progress, we have to face the downsides and scramble to sort them out.
The author is a reporter with the Global Times. wangdi@globaltimes.com.cn
