Party magazine's editorial decries 'negative' internet users

A Communist Party magazine published a commentary against internet users on Monday - saying they were disseminating false information. It is the latest in a series of state press editorials seeking to discredit liberal opinion leaders and online expressions of discontent.

The commentary, appearing in Qiushi (“Seeking Truth”), was entitled “Vigilant towards negative energy online - A rational view of cyberspace.” It noted that an increasing number of Chinese citizens were now living a “digital existence,” saying this was not necessarily a positive development.

“Frequent internet users have all had this particular experience,” the commentary said. “They open a webpage, log on to Weibo, and immediately and inadvertently sink into the middle of a negative information network… any rumour that the government refutes has to be fact, and any official release has to contain some dirty secret. Each and every contradiction in society is a problem with the system, and everyone would rather believe that things are wrong rather than believe they are right.”

The commentary then outlined several reasons for this influx of “negative energy” online.

“Negative information has a natural appeal and is likely to attract people’s curiosity and concern,” the commentary said. “Internet media often…hypes up all sorts of negative news…through provocative headlines, seductive images and exaggerated opinions,” it said.

The commentary then focused on China’s internet users, saying surveys indicated they were largely “low age, low education and low-income people. This group generally… indulges in the internet to publish all sort of extremist rhetoric… Over time they become psychologically dependent on the internet.”