Digital society's biggest social good would be welfare for all

The internet has brought about radical changes to Chinese society in the past two decades. Content-wise, internet devices have been continually updated and upgraded, and internet apps have become socialized. In terms of form, the internet has changed from being institution-oriented to society-oriented, even individual-oriented. And social relations represented by the internet have changed from platform domination to shared governance, and joint construction.

The internet has made life more convenient, and created opportunities and digital dividend. But it has also created problems, as there are many conflicts between the rules of the real world and virtual world. To address those conflicts, many new rules and restrictions, along with a mechanism for the development of digital society, have to be introduced.

To start with, we should reach a consensus on digital society, by recognizing that it is a socio-ecological system that connects people's fate. The social order has always been based on consensus; without consensus there wouldn't be normal social relations. In traditional societies, the social order was based on the consensus among social elites, and common people could hardly be part to that consensus.