Analysis: Reconnecting in a digital world – how Chinese youth navigate the decline of local communities
In our latest analysis of the China Spektrum project, MERICS together with researchers from the China Institute of University Trier (CIUT) have explored two online communities from China’s major cultural social platform Douban to highlight examples of how young people in China are coping with the challenges of living in an over-digitalized world. The analysis challenges the common perception of China as solely an advanced digital society driven by top-down tech development and tech enthusiasts longing for comfort. It reveals that Chinese people experience similar struggles due to over-digitalization, much like individuals worldwide.
