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June 2, 2009
Twitter Blocked By Great Firewall of China
Seems the Chinese government is not a fan of Twitter. Access to the social media site has been blocked in China, according to ASSME.
Free speech is not an option in China and the blocking of Twitter is another instance of this. One wonders what impact this will have on the user numbers globally. Over a third of the world's population lives in China and they represent a major growth area for the internet.
One of these days someone will create a Wireless Free broadcasting platform, similar to RadioFree America used to send radio into Communist countries and possibly an influence on the fall of the Soviet and Eastern Bloc system.
Might have to discuss the topic with Daron Babin of Webamster Radio when I see him at Affiliate Convention in Denver.
Posted by Frank Watson on June 2, 2009 3:30 PM
Comments
Daron Babin June 2, 2009 5:22 PM
Most Chinese in China dont care about Twitter and dont use Twitter. . Most use QQ so your 1/3 comment is not relevant. It wont have a big impact. Same with Youtube. There are many Chinese alternatives in China to Youtube . In fact, it wont have any impact except to the foreigners who live in China.
susan June 3, 2009 3:21 AM
Thanks for the info Susan - it is good to know there are in country alternatives - but I am sure they are heavily censored. While I realize foreign platforms are not the most used, it is like music and other Western cultural products - the small handful that do make use of them as usually the dissidents...
Aussiewebmaster June 3, 2009 5:06 PM
Indeed Susan is right. I am a Chinese in China and little peoplpe around me use Twitter. I found it difficult to understand as well :( Not to mention those who know little about English. Facebook is big in the rest of the world but most friends around me they are simply addicted to KAIXIN net (a direct translation means happiness web) and it's far more interesting according to my own experience. Youtube is another problem thou. Unless you are specifically looking for thoses sensored material, most public just dont care about that. The world indeed is in a diversity and something common in one place may be completely biazzar in others. Baidu wins google in China, Taobao beat eBay here, QQ goes lightyears further than MSN, and what else we can expect for the coming decades? Think about once ICQ sued QQ (formally OICQ) for stealing its "Q" name? I find this really interesting to watch.
Xiaoying WU June 3, 2009 9:52 PM
Wonder if the impact of Twitter in Iran may impact Chinese wanting to get out protest
Aussiewebmaster June 21, 2009 4:32 PM
It affects marketers who were previously using Twitter, Facebook and/or Youtube as online marketing tools to expats living in China.
Gordon Choi November 5, 2009 9:27 PM
I look forward to it Frank! This is indeed an interesting move on China's part. We'll have to toss this around over a frothy, non-communist beer without any censorship! lol