Weibo's Influence on Public Policy Agenda Setting: The Case of "Micro-blogging against Human Trafficking"

Content introduction：

Micro-blogging (weibo) is changing China. The claim has been made by many media and observers since 2010, the year weibo took off in China. But what is the real impact of weibo? Is it limited to online discussions and public opinion? Or is there already empirical evidence that weibo activism has influenced, if not public policy itself, at least its agenda setting? In order to answer this question, we will explain why weibo actions (xingdong) are a form of social movement and which are their specificities; who are the actors behind these actions; and where they fit into current theories of public policy agenda setting. One action will be analyzed in particular, "weibo daguai" or "micro-blogging against human trafficking". Through the analysis of secondary sources, personal interviews and the framing analysis of one official media's articles about human trafficking before and after the lauch of this weibo action, we will provide some elements of answer and propose further areas of research.