“The Chinese government tried to keep a lid on the SARS crisis, but there were 160 million text messages in three days sent by Chinese citizens. These are early indications that it's going to be difficult for people who used to have control over the news to maintain that level of control.”

American critic, writer, and teacher

Howard Rheingold is an American critic, writer, and teacher known for his work on the cultural, social, and political effects of modern communication media. He has written extensively about the Internet, mobile telephony, and virtual communities. His work focuses on how new forms of communication change public life and social connection. He is especially associated with examining the wider implications of digital media, from online networks to mobile devices and the communities they help create.