Managing micro blogs

Updated: 2011-12-22 08:40

(China Daily)

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The concern that Western media have expressed about the Beijing municipal government's efforts to advance administration of social networking services (SNS), such as the newly released rules that require users of micro-blogging sites to provide verifiable information about their identity, is largely misleading.

That the share price of Sina Corp, owner of Sina Weibo, the top micro-blogging platform in China, initially fell when the new regulations were announced but then rebounded shortly afterwards, shows that it is important to keep an open mind.

As with other SNS, Sina Weibo offers users great convenience as a communication and information-sharing platform. But keeping up with the booming popularity of SNS and preventing misuse is a new social governance problem.

Regardless of whether it is in China or the West, there are always some users who use the Web to spread rumors, or even engage in criminal activities.

SNS are in essence a virtual world, and as such, require rules, morality and management. An Internet platform without regulations cannot reflect genuine public opinion. Strengthening the management of SNS and protecting freedom of speech are not incompatible.

Many countries are exploring ways to better manage virtual communication platforms.

In the United States, for example, school districts across the country are imposing strict new guidelines that ban private conversations between teachers and their students on cell phones and online platforms like Facebook and Twitter in the wake of scandals and complaints involving teachers who had misused these social media.

The British government is considering shutting down SNS in a state of emergency following their prominent role in the rioting and looting that swept the country in August.

In China, the government is encouraging SNS, and in particular, it is encouraging government officials at various levels to interact with netizens through micro blogs. This has become an effective means to improve governance and has won public trust.

To make good use of SNS - preventing exploitation for immoral and illegal purposes, while maximizing the positive effects - requires proper management and regulations. In this regard, each nation's choices, made according to their own specific national conditions, deserve respect. There is also room for international cooperation on this matter, which is of common concern to all.

(China Daily 12/22/2011 page8)