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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Tiananmen Sweeps Twitter as Chinese Thwart Ban

'Tiananmen' becomes one of site's most-discussed topics as users turn to proxies

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(Newser) – China's blocking of Twitter ahead of the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre last week didn't foil the country's computer-savvy youth for very long, the BBC reports. Users swiftly shared information about visiting the site through proxies or software applications, and the subsequent twittering made Tiananmen one of Twitter's most-discussed topics last week.

Twitter and other social networking sites remained blocked for days after the anniversary, annoying even users with no interest in politics. "Entrepreneurs and technical experts too need to exchange ideas with their peers on social networking sites," one Beijing businessman said." For example, because blogspot is blocked, one of my business blogs is not accessible in China. This is not helping China become a technology innovator."

A man uses his laptop to take a picture of himself in front of the Tiananmen gate in Beijing, China last week.
A man uses his laptop to take a picture of himself in front of the Tiananmen gate in Beijing, China last week.   (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Chinese honor guard soldiers march against the backdrop of Tiananmen square and Tianamen gate in Beijing, China ,last week.
Chinese honor guard soldiers march against the backdrop of Tiananmen square and Tianamen gate in Beijing, China ,last week.   (AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel)
An unidentified Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks in Beijing, June 4, 1989. China did not block Facebook last week, and a group for fans of 'Tank Man' grew quickly.
An unidentified Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks in Beijing, June 4, 1989. China did not block Facebook last week, and a group for fans of 'Tank Man' grew quickly.   (AP Photo/Jeff Widener, File)
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Twitter is my main source of news and information. I usually read about things that the government doesn't care about, like technology, yet I am still facing problems. - A user in Shanghai

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2 comments
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Timinator2K
Jun 10, 09 9:04 AM CDT
Tiananmen Square massacre turned into the Tiananmen Square Extermination. America lost the moral high ground forever trading with these blood-thirsty murderers....who also run human organ mills using parts that their prisoners were still using. Reply
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Robert_Dada
Jun 10, 09 2:39 PM CDT
Like when Reagan sanctioned the right wing governments all through Latin America right? Reply
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