Asia Times has a good piece on the consequences of the rising networked society in China, including this choice quote:
It is estimated that Chinese youth will become the most powerful purchasing force in the world within the next 20 years. In China’s current environment of evolving technologies and media fragmentation, these consumers are in command of their buying behavior and entertainment choices more than ever before. As increasing numbers of Chinese go online to work, play and offload their disposable income, China’s e-revolution is throwing up fresh opportunities and challenges to marketers, and spawning new ways for the nation’s netizens to escape the mundane reality of non-virtual life.
Note to self: get in touch with that Mandarin tutor ASAP…
