Tags:Blog

The number of Internet bloggers in China reached 20.8 million at the end of 2006, with more than three million web-users regularly posting their writings, state press, quoted by an AFP report, said.

The AFP report said web logs in China took 101 million hits in 2006, according to Xinhua news agency.

The government''s concern over the rise of the blog is behind its decision to consider new rules that may require all users to register with their real names before blogging, the report said.

"The real names of bloggers will be kept private as long as they do no harm to the public interest," the report said. "If they break the law, they will be held responsible."

The report said Chinese web surfers spent an average of 170 yuan ($22) every month on the Internet, including the costs of web access and online shopping and games.

China''s online consumer market expanded by 47% in 2006 over the previous year, following "explosive growth" in online advertising, the report said, without providing figures.

At the end of 2006, China boasted 132 million online users, up 19% from the previous year, earlier reports said.


Source: telecomasia