What effect does repression have on opposition to authoritarian rule? Existing studies disagree: some find repression suppresses resistance, while others find it produces backlash and more dissent. An informational theory of repression explains these divergent results by centering censorship as the key moderator.
The Chinese government operates a massive social media operation disguised as public opinion. This study provides empirical evidence that identifies 50c posts, revealing they don't engage critics but instead distract by promoting party narratives and avoiding controversy. Analyzing over 448 million fabricated comments annually demonstrates the regime's focus on changing the subject rather than debating issues directly.