De-blackboxing ChineseInternet

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

The global Internet currently exists in a divided state. Here in the West, social media networks like Facebook and Twitter dominate and the power of Google, YouTube, and other popular tech products shapes our lives and our perceptions. Although these Silicon Valley companies have international reach, there is one huge market that does not fully embrace their technologies: China. For a variety of social and political reasons, China has decided to create its own unique online environment. This course will outline and explore the construction, trends, and activities of the Chinese Internet. We will begin with a detailed overview of modern Chinese history (20th-21st centuries) and then examine the factors contributing to key websites, social media networks, and other widely-used platforms. From this, students will gain a greater understanding and valuable research skills related to modern China, its motivations, and its global impact in a digitally-driven world.