Stories From China’s Digital Margins * Science and Technology Times

Writer Yi‑Ling Liu’s new book explores how everyday internet users in China navigate censorship, shifting social norms and rapid technological change.
Her work highlights the gap between global narratives about China and the lived experiences of individuals operating at the edges of its digital culture.
The book argues that even within restrictive systems, people continue to find small but meaningful spaces for creativity and connection.

A Decade Observing China’s Digital Transformation

Hong Kong‑born, London‑based writer Yi‑Ling Liu (pictured) has spent the past ten years documenting China’s evolving internet landscape. Her upcoming book, The Wall Dancers, traces how ordinary people have adapted to the rise of major tech firms, the expansion of mobile internet culture and the tightening of government regulation. The narrative follows individuals who found empowerment online while also learning to navigate shifting political boundaries. Although the book will be published in the United States, United Kingdom and South Korea, it will not be released in China.

Liu told Reuters that she wanted to move beyond the polarized narratives that dominate Western discussions of Chinese technology. China is often portrayed either as an all‑powerful surveillance state or as an unstoppable engine of innovation. These extremes, she argues, obscure the complexity of real human experiences. Her goal was to tell a story grounded in people rather than geopolitical abstractions.

The rise of artificial intelligence has intensified these simplistic portrayals. Some U.S. institutions frame China as a global threat, while Silicon Valley entrepreneurs praise its infrastructure and engineering achievements. Liu believes these narratives flatten China into a monolithic entity. Her book attempts to counter that by presenting a more nuanced, human‑centered view.

Telling China’s Digital Story Through Marginal Voices

Reporting the book posed unique challenges. Liu wanted to document the mainstream evolution of China’s internet while also highlighting perspectives that rarely appear in official histories. Queer communities, feminist groups and underground subcultures became central to her research. Weaving these narratives together required balancing personal stories with broader social and technological context.

She chose characters who operate at the margins but understand how to navigate the mainstream. Many of them can shift between different social environments, speak the language of authority and identify opportunities for change. Their adaptability reflects the creativity that thrives even under restrictive conditions. Liu found these individuals to be the most compelling guides to China’s digital transformation.

The book also examines how early optimism about the internet’s democratizing potential faded over time. Many believed online platforms would inevitably expand political freedoms, but the reality proved more complicated. Despite increased censorship and surveillance, Liu’s subjects continue to find ways to innovate and connect. She remains cautiously hopeful about the ingenuity of Chinese internet users, even as she worries about AI enabling deeper forms of control.

Shifting Online Culture and Global Perceptions

Liu has observed significant changes in Chinese social media in recent years. She notes that online discourse often presents a distorted version of reality shaped not only by censorship but also by the amplification of nationalist and illiberal voices. Platform incentives, she argues, play a major role in determining which opinions gain visibility. This dynamic has contributed to polarization and encouraged many users to retreat into anonymity.

These trends are not unique to China. Liu sees parallels between Chinese and Western online subcultures, including the rise of incel communities on platforms like Reddit and Weibo. She also points to a recent wave of “China envy” among some young Americans. Memes such as “living in the Chinese century” and “Chinamaxxing” reflect a growing fascination with China’s technological achievements.

Influencers visiting China have helped fuel this shift. Viral videos showcasing drones, high‑speed rail and advanced robotics have shaped perceptions among U.S. audiences. Liu believes these reactions reveal more about American anxieties and aspirations than about China itself. They illustrate how digital culture shapes cross‑border narratives in unexpected ways.

A Message About Finding Space for Authenticity

Liu hopes readers will take away a sense of possibility from her book. Even within increasingly sophisticated systems of technological control, she argues, individuals can carve out small spaces of freedom and integrity. These moments may be fragile, but they demonstrate the resilience of human creativity. Her work suggests that personal agency persists even in tightly regulated digital environments.