Abstract Research aims: This dissertation in mass communications takes a detailed look into the roles/identity of a particular subculture of Chinese youth community on the Internet, called Wemers and formation of their collective identity on Bulletin Board System (BBS) forums. With an estimated internet population of 300 million, BBS forums have become extremely popular in China. This paper provides some deep insight into manners/mechanisms of BBS subculture among mainstream University students. The paper aims to discuss literature, present trends and major issues connected with Wemer subculture and identity formation on the Internet. Research questions: The following research questions have been identified according to the implications of online BBS communities in shaping of identity for the Wemer subculture:  1. What is the role of “new-found” capitalism and material progress in the formation of “virtual, online identity” for the Wemer community, in their online interaction platform?  2. How do Wemers identify with themselves, each other and as part of the whole community, all as part of their standard interactions in the virtual environment?  3. What is the “specific” role of virtual identity in reinforcing Wemer subculture in its true, defining sense? Methodology: Above research questions have been examined using a variety of interrelated criteria: mostly, using secondary literature evidence (in Chapter 2) and primary qualitative, one-timed, empirical data collected from surveys made in actual BBS forum! Outcome: The dissertation successfully presents important conclusions/highlights for solving various research objectives outlined along with research questions in picture. Introduction Research overview Before the emergence of the Internet, not many options were available for ordinary Chinese citizens to express their “individual” opinions through “public discussion” and “debate” (Jensen & Weston, 2006, p.136). Times have changed now. According to an estimate by Jensen and Weston (2006), about one-fifth of Chinese netizens are making regular use of Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) to speak their mind on a variety of issues concerning “social and public policy” (p.136). In a remarkable trend, these bulletin boards are being run by individuals, commercial companies such as Sina.com , universities and even government press agencies such as People’s Daily and Strong National Forum (p.136). This “expanded space” for social-political activism can be attributed to 25 years of market-oriented economic reforms that have made ordinary Chinese citizens more aware of their “social interests” and “expression rights” (p.137). New ideological terms such as weiquan (defending rights) and zhi qing quan (right to know) have entered the Chinese vocabulary (p.137). With the rapid spread of the Internet, BBS activities enable the “global” Chinese community to feel connected in all ways possible. Like all emerging technologies which take off in a big way, the young Chinese have taken to online BBS activities to feel the power of freedom in achieving greater satisfaction in their quest for knowledge. Since, expression on the Internet is identified as the “power of the youth” (Lowe, Lowe & Gaedke, 2005, p.119), young Chinese are proudly asserting their rights to public expression and this extends to disparate mediums such as academia and business. In order to capture the correct picture of trends reflected one must scrutinize the youth Chinese perspective to understand societal implications of online BBS activities. The aim of this paper is to examine different aspec