ETYMOLOGY
The evolution of keyboard warriors mirrors China's internet development. During the 2009 Diba Expedition on Baidu Tieba, organized online campaigns birthed early terms like digital boxers referencing the historical Boxer Rebellion.
After 2013's real-name registration policy on Weibo, anonymous users migrated to new platforms. Zhihu user @CyberObserver systematically defined three characteristics of keyboard warriors in 2015:
'Throwing punches through screens while staying silent in reality, holding others to strict moral standards while excusing their own behavior'The 2018 Chongqing bus accident became a watershed moment. Netizens initially blamed a female driver without verification, which CCTV later debunked. Their commentary 'Let the keyboard warriors' bullets fly a while longer' sparked public reflection on cyber violence.
Modern usage examples:
When questioning celebrity donations: 'How much have these keyboard warriors donated?'In geopolitical discussions: 'The armchair geopoliticians are back online'