The Surprising Similarity Between the US and Chinese Internets

The podcast explores the evolution and current state of the Chinese internet, contrasting its initial utopian promise with its present-day realities of censorship and nationalism. Yi-Ling Liu, author of "The Wall Dancers," discusses how the Chinese internet, despite state control, mirrors global internet trends like tribalism and algorithmic influence. She highlights the vagueness of censorship, the creativity in bypassing it through coded language, and the emergence of a strong nationalist sentiment, particularly after the 2008 Olympics and financial crisis. The conversation also touches on the similarities between Chinese and American internet phenomena, such as patriotic influencers and the centralizing power of tech oligarchs, questioning whether technology inherently leads to freedom.