Conducting ethnographic research in China’s digital industry: Experience, challenges, and practical solutions

Abstract

Recent studies on China’s digital industry have often highlighted the challenge of gaining access to internet companies, which has limited scholarly engagement with these corporations in critical research on China’s digital economy. However, the endeavor of studying closed subjects is not new in the world of academia. Drawing from my prior ethnographic research experiences, this article presents three strategic approaches for conducting meso-level research on internet companies in China. The first strategy involves paying attention to a disparate array of sources. The second strategy focuses on acquiring fluency in the terminology commonly employed by individuals working in internet companies. The final strategy centers on de-escalating sensitivity. In conclusion, this article discusses the implications of these strategies for future ethnographic research on internet companies in China.