Net the vox populi platform

China's nearly 338 million netizens, with their collective expressions of concern on many social issues, are fast becoming an emerging source of pressure both in the virtual and real world.

This is not something that has happened overnight. When the title of "netizen" was granted to Internet users in China in the late 1990s, an opinion group was formed, though back then it was relatively small. Now their influence has grown in step with the rapid rise in their number.

Some say Chinese netizens merely impose virtual pressure that is not tangible. But their impact in the real world is indeed significant. Their identity is decided by the opinions they express, not by the way they express them. Similar to traditional means of communicating opinions - making phone calls or sending letters, even visiting influential figures - netizens are seeking a more convenient and safer way of expressing their concerns on social issues.