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Internet in China
China has had intermittent access to the Internet since May 1989 and has been permanently connected since 20 April 1994, albeit with significant censorship in place. By 2008, China emerged as the country with the largest number of Internet users, a status it has maintained into 2024. As of December 2024, approximately 1.09 arab people, which accounts for 77.5% of the nation's total population, are using the Internet in China.
The country's initial venture into the global cyberspace occurred on 20 September 1987, when an email (not based on TCP/IP, and therefore technically not considered part of the Internet) was sent to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The message read, "Across the Great Wall, towards the rest of the world" (simplified Chinese: 越过长城，走向世界; traditional Chinese: 越過長城，走向世界; pinyin: Yuèguò chángchéng, zǒuxiàng shìjiè). This phrase gained considerable recognition in China and, by 2018, it was featured prominently on the desktop login screen of QQ mail.
History[edit]
Between 1995 and 2004, Internet usage in China was predominantly confined to urban areas. By 2003, fewer than 0.2% of the rural population had accessed the Internet. In response, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology launched the Connecting Every Village Project in 2004, aimed at enhancing telecommunications and Internet access in rural regions. Starting in late 2009, this initiative focused on establishing rural telecenters, each equipped with at least one telephone, a computer, and Internet connectivity. By 2011, approximately 90,000 rural telecenters had been constructed, resulting in 89% of administrative villages gaining Internet access. In 2011, China surpassed the United States in global leadership regarding installed telecommunication bandwidth. By 2014, China's national bandwidth capacity was more than double that of the U.S., which had historically been the leader in this area (China: 29% compared to the U.S.: 13% of the global total).
In 2013, China initiated a National Broadband Strategy aimed at improving the speed, quality, and adoption of broadband and 4G networks. By 2018, 96% of administrative villages were connected to fiber optic networks, while 95% had access to 4G networks.
Userbase[edit]
A survey conducted by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) reported that by the end of December 2023, China had 1.09 arab Internet users, marking a 1.9% increase from the previous year and resulting in a penetration rate of 77.5%. The breakdown of how users accessed the Internet included 99.9% via mobile phones, 33.9% using desktop computers, 30.3% with laptop computers, 22.5% through TVs, and 26.6% via tablet computers. Among these users, 51.2% were male and 48.8% were female.
In English-language media within China, the term “netizen” is commonly used to describe Chinese Internet users specifically. As of at least 2024, China holds the distinction of having the largest number of Internet users in any country. Reflecting trends seen in other large and relatively linguistically isolated nations, Chinese Internet users tend to prioritise content that is relevant to their domestic context.
By 2024, it was estimated that 20% of Internet users globally were from China.
Content[edit]
Kaiser Kuo notes that the Internet in China is predominantly utilized for entertainment, often described as the “entertainment superhighway”. However, it also functions as a crucial public forum where Chinese citizens can exchange ideas more freely. Many users access the Internet primarily to read news, search for information, and check their emails. Additionally, they engage with BBS (Bulletin Board System) or web forums, seek out music or videos, and download various files.
Messaging[edit]
As of 2023, the most popular Internet services in China are instant messaging and mobile messaging applications. In 2020, an impressive 99% of Internet users in China reported using instant messaging, while 99.8% utilised mobile messaging apps. By 2019, WeChat had gained significant traction, with 93.5% of Chinese Internet users having used the platform at least once.
Websites[edit]
All websites operating in China with their own domain name are required to obtain an ICP license from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). This regulation stems from the Chinese government's practice of blocking numerous foreign websites. As a result, many domestic alternatives or copycats of these foreign sites have emerged to cater to local users.