The Surprising Similarity Between the US and Chinese Internets - Odd Lots Recap

Podcast: Odd Lots

Published: 2026-02-03

Duration: 51 minutes

Guests: Yiling Lui

Summary

The episode explores how both the US and Chinese internets have become centralized, fostering nationalism and control despite their different governance systems. The guest, Yiling Lui, delves into the nuances of the Chinese internet and its users' navigation through censorship and expression.

What Happened

The late 1990s were marked by optimism about the internet's potential to foster liberalism and democracy globally, with Bill Clinton famously asserting that China would struggle to censor it. However, China has excelled at internet control, and the US has also seen the rise of centralized power among a few tech giants, leading to unexpected parallels. Yiling Lui, author of 'The Wall Dancers,' discusses how the Chinese internet evolved from a hope for openness to a tool for nationalism, with users cleverly navigating censorship through creative language like homonyms and code words.

China's unique internet ecosystem allows some expression as a 'safety valve' but remains firmly under state control, with vague censorship guidelines prompting self-censorship among companies. Lui highlights the effectiveness of this vagueness as it prevents users and companies from knowing the boundaries, thus fostering compliance. The rise of 'patriotic trolls' and 'Little Pinks' demonstrates how nationalism and online fandom have intertwined in China, mirroring some trends in the US.

The conversation examines the blurred lines between freedom and control, with both nations' internets characterized by nationalism, tribalism, and conflict. The Chinese government's use of AI in censorship is more advanced, with an algorithm registry that requires companies to submit their algorithms for oversight, a mechanism not yet present in the US.

Despite different governance structures, both the US and Chinese internets have seen centralized control over technology, with societal divides between those creating technology and those consuming it. Lui points out that the centralized control resembles the control exerted by individuals like Elon Musk over platforms like X (formerly Twitter), drawing parallels with Chinese government control over platforms like Weibo.

The episode also touches on a unique interaction between American and Chinese users during a brief TikTok ban in the US, where many Americans turned to China's Xiaohongshu (Red Note) platform. This event led to a rare and sincere exchange between users from both internets, highlighting the potential for connection amidst political and digital divides.

Lui's insights challenge the simplistic narratives often depicted in Western media about the Chinese internet, advocating for a more nuanced understanding by focusing on individual stories rather than just state or platform perspectives. She emphasizes the role of content moderators in China, who manage online content beyond algorithmic control, adding another layer to the complex dynamics of internet governance in both countries.

Key Insights