Despite censorship, Internet gives Chinese new ways to express themselves

BEIJING — Google's recent clash with Chinese authorities over censorship highlighted the limitations of the world's largest Internet market. But it also overshadowed a reality often missed by the West: China's Web gives citizens the ability to sound off in ways never possible before under a Communist system that restricts freedom of expression.

A generation of netizens is emerging that is worldly, informed and willing to take pokes at the government. "The Internet has taught the Chinese youth egalitarian values," said Lisa Li, founder of China Youthology, which examines the attitudes and beliefs of those ages 15 to 25.

There is a significant amount of online freedom, said Guobin Yang, assistant professor at Barnard College in New York City and author of "The Power of the Internet in China: Citizen Activism Online. "In the past year, the nation's top leaders have held unfiltered Internet chats with netizens. (Premier) Wen Jiabao held a two-hour session with Internet people. He responded to all kinds of questions. They raised very challenging questions. People were very critical of him. It shows how important the Internet is and how the government is paying close attention to it."