China’s internet controls: What if citizens disengage?

Abstract

For thirty years, the Chinese internet has been characterized by engagement between citizens and the government, and between the Chinese internet and the global internet. In this commentary, we formalize the concept of disengagement: the unwillingness to participate in digital activity. We review the origins of disengagement, its association with other social trends, and evaluate the possibility of its emergence. We argue that disengagement may have profound social, political, and economic consequences for the country. Finally, we call for future scholarship with renewed focus on disengagement and its consequences.