Social network: World is just one click away

Whether on a crowded subway during the rush hour, playing online games in an Internet cafe or checking e-mail at work, one thing is for sure -- China's population is increasingly connected. But as Zhao Yunjie finds out, the current generation of Chinese Internet users are no longer content with online gaming or shopping, but they are seeking to express themselves and to be heard by the world. Sina Weibo, the Chinese version of twitter has just celebrated its second birthday. In such short time, it has become the most popular social network in China. Weibo literally translates to "micro-blogging". With its red eye logo, the company has reshaped China's digital landscape, just like Facebook or Twitter has done worldwide. Today, over one hundred million registered users spend time on Weibo everyday, where they chat with friends, post pictures, and comment on the latest news stories. Ji Yunping, a Weibo user, said, "I use my Weibo account to see what messages entrepreneurs post or to find out information about my favorite celebrities." Not everything on Weibo is easy and casual. Strong opinions are expressed on the website every time an important event takes place. The most recent case was the deadly July 23rd train crash. Ten minutes after the crash, a young female passenger updated her microblog in a desperate call for help. Her post was one of the first reports of the accident that reached the outside world. And it was after seeing the news on Weibo that many locals rushed to donate blood. Another example happened just weeks before. A 20-year-old girl claiming to be the general manager of the country's national Red Cross Society, exhibited her luxurious lifestyle on Weibo. The case triggered great concern among microbloggers about whether their donations are being misused. Discussions on the Internet were so intense that the debate soon spilt over into traditional media and an investigation has now been launched. Microblogs can sometimes also help save lives. In January, a professor from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences set up an Internet campaign against child-trafficking. The idea is simple: Microbloggers take photos of young beggars they see in the street and upload them to a Weibo accounts. Seven-year-old Peng Wenle was saved thanks to this. He was kidnapped three years ago outside his father's store in the city of Shenzhen. After many false leads, the boy's dad turned to the professor's microblog and after more than 6,000 photos were posted online, father and son were finally been reunited. With over 470 million Internet users, China has long-since grown accustomed to the rising popularity of social networking sites. Before Weibo, there were renren and kaixin, two "facebook" style real-name-based websites. After just two years in the market, Weibo dominates the market. In the online world, things change fast and Weibo could be replaced one day soon but the importance of social networks and the lessons of citizenship they teach will undoubtedly remain.