The pervasive penetration of the smartphone has disproportionately affected adolescents and youth... more The pervasive penetration of the smartphone has disproportionately affected adolescents and youth more than any other sociodemographic group. Inspired by the conceptual framework of the digital divide in internet use, this research aims to interrogate the multi-dimensional aspects of disparities in smartphone use among teens in China. Measurement was developed to assess the first-, second-, and third-level divide as manifested in smartphone access and engagement in a variety of activities, different skill sets, and myriad outcomes and consequences. Results from a cross-sectional survey of 1,511 at-school teens show various patterns of divide along the lines of age, gender, and rural/mid-sized-city/metropolitan location.
... Notice. 101.29 € Ajouter au panier. The internet in china : cyberspace and civil society. Aut... more ... Notice. 101.29 € Ajouter au panier. The internet in china : cyberspace and civil society. Auteur(s) : WILHELM Andrea Date de parution: 02-2006 Langue : ANGLAIS 320p. Hardback Etat : Disponible chez l'éditeur (délai de livraison : 12 jours) Commentaire. ...
Background: Smartphone use has become a pervasive aspect of youth daily life today. Immersive eng... more Background: Smartphone use has become a pervasive aspect of youth daily life today. Immersive engagement with apps and features on the smartphone may lead to intimate and affectionate human-device relationships. The purpose of this research is to holistically dissect the ranked order of the various dimensions of college students' attachment to the smartphones through the by-person factorial analytical power of Q methodology. Methods: Inspired by extant research into diverse aspects of human attachment to the smartphones, a concourse of 50 statements pertinent to the functional, behavioral, emotional and psychological dimensions of human-smartphone attachment were pilot tested and developed. A P sample of 67 participants completed the Q sort based on respective subjective perceptions and self-references. Data was processed utilizing the open-source Web-based Ken-Q Analysis software in detecting the main factorial structure. Results: Five distinct factor (persona) exemplars were identified illustrating different pragmatic, cognitive and attitudinal approaches to smartphone engagement. They were labeled mainstream users, disciplined conventionalists, casual fun-seekers, inquisitive nerds, and sentient pragmatists in response to their respective psycho-behavioral traits. There were clear patterns of similarity and divergence among the five personas. Conclusion: The typological diversity points to the multiplicate nature of human-smartphone attachment. Clusters of cognitive, behavioral and habitual patterns in smartphone engagement driving each persona may be a productive area of exploration in future research in exploring their respective emotional and other outcomes. The concurrent agency of nomophobia and anthropomorphic attribution is an intriguing line of academic inquiry.
By analysing rumour content as covered by major Chinese newspapers, this article explores the mul... more By analysing rumour content as covered by major Chinese newspapers, this article explores the multiple dimensions of SARS-related rumouring throughout China during the 2003 epidemic. Findings indicate a strong correlation between the scale of SARS infections and level of rumour activities across regions. As for channels of dissemination, the rumour process still found a natural habitat in word of mouth, while internet-based platforms and cell phone text messaging emerged as viable grapevines. Our particular typology of SARS-incurred rumours leads us to identify four distinct types of rumours: legendary rumours; aetiological narratives; proto-memorates; and bogies. The four types of rumours are discussed against the background of superstitious beliefs, folklore practices, popular mentalities, and China's particular socio-political information environment.
The field of local news is often associated with news deserts, commonly defined as geo-based comm... more The field of local news is often associated with news deserts, commonly defined as geo-based communities without newspapers or other legacy media as providers of locally oriented news and civic information. This phenomenon is expanding in global society due to the diminishing presence of newspapers at moments of accelerated digitization. This study examines the multiplex nature of news deserts in rural and suburban areas in China. Data were collected through a multi-methods approach combining two focus groups and 44 semi-structured in-depth interviews. Patterns of engagement among interviewees reveal that smartphone-based social media applications and digital platforms function as viable sources of news, and incidental exposure to news has become the norm of digital news use. Government-orchestrated convergent media services and WeChat channels are preferred choices by most research participants for local news. We argue that a media ecology perspective may be a productive approach t...
Background: Tai Ji Quan (TJQ) has broad appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. This study ... more Background: Tai Ji Quan (TJQ) has broad appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. This study aimed to examine a variety of individual and environmental factors in the dissemination of TJQ to diverse practicing communities in China. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was utilized in the research design. Quantitative data were collected via an online survey using a national sample (N = 737), whereas qualitative data came from focus groups and in-depth interviews. Analysis was performed along the RE-AIM dimensions of reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Results: We divided TJQ experience into 4 distinct categories (nonlearners, current learners, quitters, and retainers) and observed significant patterns of variation along lines of occupation groups and age cohorts. A significant male/female difference was detected in TJQ experience among college students but not the general public, and having practicing family members was an important predictor of personal TJQ...
In comparison with the USA and Europe, the Chinese blogosphere was off to a later start; however,... more In comparison with the USA and Europe, the Chinese blogosphere was off to a later start; however, it has experienced phenomenal growth since its formal birth in 2002. Now China boasts by far the largest blogging community in the world, surpassing the blogger population in the United States and Europe combined. Chinese bloggers are among the first globally to both actively engage in blog writing and reading. Although the Chinese blogosphere has closely followed the global path of technological innovation and ingenuity, it has taken many of its own unique twists and turns in terms of its creative uses and impact on the social, political and cultural contexts of Chinese society. Focusing on the popularization of blogs, mainstreaming, and commercialization of the global cyber culture in China, this chapter paints a portrait of a Chinese blogger. Due to the omnipresent state control of cyberspace and heavy-handed state censoring of online information, most Chinese bloggers have shied awa...
This article presents an analysis of a netnographic study of QQ groups engaged in contentious act... more This article presents an analysis of a netnographic study of QQ groups engaged in contentious activities in China. Informed primarily by semi-structured in-depth interviews of 34 participants and field observations through years of grounded research, the findings shed light on the communicative dynamics and mobilization strategies of QQ groups in nurturing contentious action and motivating mass participation in social protest. In-group communication stays highly focused on the respective mission of the groups, and it cultivates a sense of shared awareness conducive to collective action. There is also a noticeable contagion effect that transfers the spirit of contestation in terms of speech and action. Mobilizing dynamics in the QQ groups point to a hybrid model of activist-brokered networks, which crosscuts and interconnects elements in Bennett and Segerberg’s (2012) prototype of self-organizing networks and organizationally brokered networks. Group leaders and activists resort to a...
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the lives of people around the globe. As of Februar... more The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the lives of people around the globe. As of February 2022, the coronavirus has spread to 193 countries and regions worldwide, with about 378 million known infections and over 5.6 million deaths attributable to the disease (Johns Hopkins University, 2022). While the virus’s impact on health has been devastating, the pandemic impacted nearly every aspect of public life, including nationwide “lockdowns,” dramatic declines in economic output, rampant unemployment, political disputes about masking, and thousands of news stories about the origin and consequences of the pandemic. While there are indications that the number of new infections has finally passed its peak, the social, cultural, and political consequences of the pandemic will be long-lasting. One noticeable effect of the pandemic on public life has been the growing conflict over masking and vaccination mandates in the United States and Europe. Driven by deep political divisions among politicians and citizens alike, refusals to comply with these mandates have undoubtedly increased the number of deaths attributed to the coronavirus disease. There is also little doubt that former President Trump’s frequent use of the derogatory term “Chinese virus” in his speeches, tweets, and press conferences negatively influenced public perceptions of Asians living in the United States. Trump’s efforts to blame China for the worldwide spread of coronavirus likely encouraged some Americans to not only blame Asians for the pandemic but also physically attack them. Between March 19, 2020 and September 30, 2021, Stop AAPI Hate, a research organization
Mobile Communication in Asia: Local Insights, Global Implications, 2016
This chapter offers an in-depth, up-to-date, and panoramic analysis of the mobile game landscape ... more This chapter offers an in-depth, up-to-date, and panoramic analysis of the mobile game landscape in China, with a particular emphasis on the interplay of the tripartite components of the industry, game content and players. Set against the backdrop of decades of state policy of vigorously incubating a national pillar industry while maintaining tight control of game content and market entry, it contemplates how monetization of mobile games has turned into a core focus of wireless service providers through the consolidation of a unique business model incorporating a variety of well-coordinated distributing platforms, marketing venues, app stores and value-added services targeting tiers of gamers and gameplays. It also scrutinizes the stages of evolution of the Chinese mobile game industry from scratch to prosperity in a short span of less than two decades, and analyzes the variegated dynamics of the game players as well as the game titles that pervade the market. It ends with some future prospects and emerging trends in the mobile game industry in China.
The pervasive penetration of the smartphone has disproportionately affected adolescents and youth... more The pervasive penetration of the smartphone has disproportionately affected adolescents and youth more than any other sociodemographic group. Inspired by the conceptual framework of the digital divide in internet use, this research aims to interrogate the multi-dimensional aspects of disparities in smartphone use among teens in China. Measurement was developed to assess the first-, second-, and third-level divide as manifested in smartphone access and engagement in a variety of activities, different skill sets, and myriad outcomes and consequences. Results from a cross-sectional survey of 1,511 at-school teens show various patterns of divide along the lines of age, gender, and rural/mid-sized-city/metropolitan location.
... Notice. 101.29 € Ajouter au panier. The internet in china : cyberspace and civil society. Aut... more ... Notice. 101.29 € Ajouter au panier. The internet in china : cyberspace and civil society. Auteur(s) : WILHELM Andrea Date de parution: 02-2006 Langue : ANGLAIS 320p. Hardback Etat : Disponible chez l'éditeur (délai de livraison : 12 jours) Commentaire. ...
Background: Smartphone use has become a pervasive aspect of youth daily life today. Immersive eng... more Background: Smartphone use has become a pervasive aspect of youth daily life today. Immersive engagement with apps and features on the smartphone may lead to intimate and affectionate human-device relationships. The purpose of this research is to holistically dissect the ranked order of the various dimensions of college students' attachment to the smartphones through the by-person factorial analytical power of Q methodology. Methods: Inspired by extant research into diverse aspects of human attachment to the smartphones, a concourse of 50 statements pertinent to the functional, behavioral, emotional and psychological dimensions of human-smartphone attachment were pilot tested and developed. A P sample of 67 participants completed the Q sort based on respective subjective perceptions and self-references. Data was processed utilizing the open-source Web-based Ken-Q Analysis software in detecting the main factorial structure. Results: Five distinct factor (persona) exemplars were identified illustrating different pragmatic, cognitive and attitudinal approaches to smartphone engagement. They were labeled mainstream users, disciplined conventionalists, casual fun-seekers, inquisitive nerds, and sentient pragmatists in response to their respective psycho-behavioral traits. There were clear patterns of similarity and divergence among the five personas. Conclusion: The typological diversity points to the multiplicate nature of human-smartphone attachment. Clusters of cognitive, behavioral and habitual patterns in smartphone engagement driving each persona may be a productive area of exploration in future research in exploring their respective emotional and other outcomes. The concurrent agency of nomophobia and anthropomorphic attribution is an intriguing line of academic inquiry.
By analysing rumour content as covered by major Chinese newspapers, this article explores the mul... more By analysing rumour content as covered by major Chinese newspapers, this article explores the multiple dimensions of SARS-related rumouring throughout China during the 2003 epidemic. Findings indicate a strong correlation between the scale of SARS infections and level of rumour activities across regions. As for channels of dissemination, the rumour process still found a natural habitat in word of mouth, while internet-based platforms and cell phone text messaging emerged as viable grapevines. Our particular typology of SARS-incurred rumours leads us to identify four distinct types of rumours: legendary rumours; aetiological narratives; proto-memorates; and bogies. The four types of rumours are discussed against the background of superstitious beliefs, folklore practices, popular mentalities, and China's particular socio-political information environment.
The field of local news is often associated with news deserts, commonly defined as geo-based comm... more The field of local news is often associated with news deserts, commonly defined as geo-based communities without newspapers or other legacy media as providers of locally oriented news and civic information. This phenomenon is expanding in global society due to the diminishing presence of newspapers at moments of accelerated digitization. This study examines the multiplex nature of news deserts in rural and suburban areas in China. Data were collected through a multi-methods approach combining two focus groups and 44 semi-structured in-depth interviews. Patterns of engagement among interviewees reveal that smartphone-based social media applications and digital platforms function as viable sources of news, and incidental exposure to news has become the norm of digital news use. Government-orchestrated convergent media services and WeChat channels are preferred choices by most research participants for local news. We argue that a media ecology perspective may be a productive approach t...
Background: Tai Ji Quan (TJQ) has broad appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. This study ... more Background: Tai Ji Quan (TJQ) has broad appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. This study aimed to examine a variety of individual and environmental factors in the dissemination of TJQ to diverse practicing communities in China. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was utilized in the research design. Quantitative data were collected via an online survey using a national sample (N = 737), whereas qualitative data came from focus groups and in-depth interviews. Analysis was performed along the RE-AIM dimensions of reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Results: We divided TJQ experience into 4 distinct categories (nonlearners, current learners, quitters, and retainers) and observed significant patterns of variation along lines of occupation groups and age cohorts. A significant male/female difference was detected in TJQ experience among college students but not the general public, and having practicing family members was an important predictor of personal TJQ...
In comparison with the USA and Europe, the Chinese blogosphere was off to a later start; however,... more In comparison with the USA and Europe, the Chinese blogosphere was off to a later start; however, it has experienced phenomenal growth since its formal birth in 2002. Now China boasts by far the largest blogging community in the world, surpassing the blogger population in the United States and Europe combined. Chinese bloggers are among the first globally to both actively engage in blog writing and reading. Although the Chinese blogosphere has closely followed the global path of technological innovation and ingenuity, it has taken many of its own unique twists and turns in terms of its creative uses and impact on the social, political and cultural contexts of Chinese society. Focusing on the popularization of blogs, mainstreaming, and commercialization of the global cyber culture in China, this chapter paints a portrait of a Chinese blogger. Due to the omnipresent state control of cyberspace and heavy-handed state censoring of online information, most Chinese bloggers have shied awa...
This article presents an analysis of a netnographic study of QQ groups engaged in contentious act... more This article presents an analysis of a netnographic study of QQ groups engaged in contentious activities in China. Informed primarily by semi-structured in-depth interviews of 34 participants and field observations through years of grounded research, the findings shed light on the communicative dynamics and mobilization strategies of QQ groups in nurturing contentious action and motivating mass participation in social protest. In-group communication stays highly focused on the respective mission of the groups, and it cultivates a sense of shared awareness conducive to collective action. There is also a noticeable contagion effect that transfers the spirit of contestation in terms of speech and action. Mobilizing dynamics in the QQ groups point to a hybrid model of activist-brokered networks, which crosscuts and interconnects elements in Bennett and Segerberg’s (2012) prototype of self-organizing networks and organizationally brokered networks. Group leaders and activists resort to a...
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the lives of people around the globe. As of Februar... more The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the lives of people around the globe. As of February 2022, the coronavirus has spread to 193 countries and regions worldwide, with about 378 million known infections and over 5.6 million deaths attributable to the disease (Johns Hopkins University, 2022). While the virus’s impact on health has been devastating, the pandemic impacted nearly every aspect of public life, including nationwide “lockdowns,” dramatic declines in economic output, rampant unemployment, political disputes about masking, and thousands of news stories about the origin and consequences of the pandemic. While there are indications that the number of new infections has finally passed its peak, the social, cultural, and political consequences of the pandemic will be long-lasting. One noticeable effect of the pandemic on public life has been the growing conflict over masking and vaccination mandates in the United States and Europe. Driven by deep political divisions among politicians and citizens alike, refusals to comply with these mandates have undoubtedly increased the number of deaths attributed to the coronavirus disease. There is also little doubt that former President Trump’s frequent use of the derogatory term “Chinese virus” in his speeches, tweets, and press conferences negatively influenced public perceptions of Asians living in the United States. Trump’s efforts to blame China for the worldwide spread of coronavirus likely encouraged some Americans to not only blame Asians for the pandemic but also physically attack them. Between March 19, 2020 and September 30, 2021, Stop AAPI Hate, a research organization
Mobile Communication in Asia: Local Insights, Global Implications, 2016
This chapter offers an in-depth, up-to-date, and panoramic analysis of the mobile game landscape ... more This chapter offers an in-depth, up-to-date, and panoramic analysis of the mobile game landscape in China, with a particular emphasis on the interplay of the tripartite components of the industry, game content and players. Set against the backdrop of decades of state policy of vigorously incubating a national pillar industry while maintaining tight control of game content and market entry, it contemplates how monetization of mobile games has turned into a core focus of wireless service providers through the consolidation of a unique business model incorporating a variety of well-coordinated distributing platforms, marketing venues, app stores and value-added services targeting tiers of gamers and gameplays. It also scrutinizes the stages of evolution of the Chinese mobile game industry from scratch to prosperity in a short span of less than two decades, and analyzes the variegated dynamics of the game players as well as the game titles that pervade the market. It ends with some future prospects and emerging trends in the mobile game industry in China.
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