China has more than 125 million microblog users by the end of October and the new media platform has radically changed how people receive information and has also helped them comment on public affairs, an industry report showed.
Users tend to voice their opinions widely on twitter-like microblogs which have emerged as a new platform for communication and to spread information, Shanghai Jiao Tong University said in the "2010 China Microblog Annual Report" yesterday.
Users also tend to microblog more often when there is breaking news. Among this year's top 50 major news tracked by Shanghai Jiaotong University, 11 of them were first exposed by users on their microblogs.
This year is viewed as the first year of China's "microblogs era" after leading Internet portals Sina, Sohu, NetEase and Tencent launched their microblog services. Social network sites, including Renren.com and Kaixin.com, also have similar microblog functions to enhance user interaction.
Analysys International, a Beijing-based Internet consultant, estimated users of microblogs in China could climb to 240 million in 2012.
"China's microblog market is still young and much needs to be done to educate users," Analysys said in a research report.
