本文旨在探索中間階層崛起如何影響中國的網絡輿論生態。作為改革開放的同齡人,中間階層的出現得益于社會轉型,他們孜孜于社會的安全和穩定,擁護市場經濟和公平競爭原則。這一訴求與媒介技術的進步相耦合,使他們開始取代低年齡、低收入、低教育水平的"三低人群"成為網絡輿論的主力軍和議程設置者。具體表現為網民關心的議題從吏治反腐轉向公共管理;多個社交媒體平臺之間產生聯動效應,短時間內能夠引爆輿情,形成獨立的輿論場;網民的表達方式從情緒化、非理性成長為真正的"無組織的組織";傳統大V式微,在垂直細分領域擁有專業知識和特長的專家成為新的意見領袖,這些變化建構了中國網絡輿論空間的新生態。

This essay intends to explore how China’s emerging middle class shapes domestic public opinions.The rapidly emerging new class is essentially born out of the country’s social transformation,and its reform and open up policy in particular.Consequently,this new group supports maintaining social stability and safety,as well as market economy and the principle of fair play.Their increasing awareness of civil rights,coupled with the rise of a networked society in China,kept pushing them ahead to replace the emotionally-driven nationalists as the major driving force and agenda setters at online public forums.To be specific,public administration affairs,which concern the middle class the most,have been given priority in public chatters;these well-educated Internet literates voiced their opinions via different social media platforms,rallying heated yet soberminded discussions;Their joint and continuous endeavors have lifted issues of public welfare to such an intensity and scale that was hardly conceivable in this group of people before.As such,new opinion leaders have been edging out old ones as knowledge in different niche markets became much appreciated than social reputation alone.