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Voice without Representation: Worker Voice in China’s Networked Public Sphere

Duanyi Yang & Tingting Zhang

ILR Review (Industrial and Labor Relations Review)2025https://doi.org/10.1177/00197939251346159article
AJG 3ABDC A*
Weight
0.46

Abstract

Does worker voice on social media empower individuals to advocate for better working conditions when traditional voice mechanisms are absent? This study examined Chinese tech workers’ use of social media to resist overwork culture. The analysis of social media data, interviews, and news published by state-affiliated outlets shows worker voice on social media raised public awareness of overtime issues and increased state-run media coverage of overtime issues, culminating in a landmark ruling in China’s Supreme People’s Court against exploitative practices. However, online debates on the legitimacy of these overtime practices failed to build a lasting consensus in support of workers. Inconsistent enforcement of labor laws and administrative directives further weakened the protection of tech workers. Ultimately, while social media amplified worker voice, it failed to drive meaningful workplace improvements in a context in which workers lacked associational and institutional power.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/00197939251346159

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@article{duanyi2025,
  title        = {{Voice without Representation: Worker Voice in China’s Networked Public Sphere}},
  author       = {Duanyi Yang & Tingting Zhang},
  journal      = {ILR Review (Industrial and Labor Relations Review)},
  year         = {2025},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/00197939251346159},
}

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Voice without Representation: Worker Voice in China’s Networked Public Sphere

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Evidence weight

0.46

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.37 × 0.4 = 0.15
M · momentum0.60 × 0.15 = 0.09
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.