Crafting self identity in a virtual community: Chinese internet users and their political sense form
Multicultural Education & Technology Journal
ISSN: 1750-497X
Article publication date: 16 October 2007
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the construction of virtual community identities among Chinese internet users and their motivation for lurking, posting or flaming.
Design/methodology/approach
Taking Qiangguo Luntan as an online study site the authors apply an ethnographic approach for the research, a method that is becoming more and more favourable by scholars in study virtual communities. The data gathered are mainly through participant observation and in‐depth interviews.
Findings
The findings suggest that internet bulletin boards enable ordinary Chinese to have their identities as politically activated citizens constructed in cyberspace. A consistent enthusiasm for political participation can be found in user's pennames, signature files, political clusters, and online behaviours.
Originality/value
This is an original case study.
Keywords
Citation
Tian, R.G. and Wu, Y. (2007), "Crafting self identity in a virtual community: Chinese internet users and their political sense form", Multicultural Education & Technology Journal, Vol. 1 No. 4, pp. 238-258. https://doi.org/10.1108/17504970710832835
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited