"My target university is the Beijing-based Central Academy of Drama, one of the best for learning acting. I will spare no effort to make my dream come true," said Yin, who is now living in a half-basement dormitory at the training school in Beijing with other students from around China. "I feel happy to make an effort for something I really like. It is my choice, and I won't regret it."

Surfing age

Yin found out the training school through the Internet, while her parents are still at a loss about how to surf online. She checked through the Internet for information on this training school she attends to allay her parents' fears.

Born in the information age, the generation born in the 1990s knows how to use the Internet to get information. Liu Minhua, a teacher from Tsinghua University, another prestigious institution, is surprised at how much new students knew about the university before arriving. "It is quite different from former years," said Liu.

Students of the new generation are not satisfied with getting information from the official university website. They check out information through a variety of channels. At many universities there are web discussion areas aimed at new students. Common questions include: What are the living conditions like? How are meals at the university? How much will I need to spend on meals each month?

The post-90s generation is also familiar with making friends through the Internet. In fact, for many from single-child families, the Internet has become their main way of making friends. It provides an easy way to meet people and organize activities.

"I hang out with my small group of friends to go shopping or to restaurants," said a netizen using the name Jumping Kite. "There are many 1990s students on the Internet, more than you could meet in real life. We have a lot of common words."

He was referring to a special way of talking known as Martian language. Martian language is formed by words that are a combination of English letters, Chinese characters, Internet slang and symbols. For example, the word "orz" means being shocked since it looks like a person kneeling on the ground. The word "cul8rk" means "see you later, ok?"

The term Martian language comes from a quote from a Hong Kong comedy show called Shaolin Soccer, in which one character tells another, "Go back to Mars. Earth is so dangerous." In reference to this, people who are strangers to local culture are referred to as Martians in Chinese cyberspace. Martian language has become a way for students to keep their correspondence private, and it also reinforces their identity as the new generation.

"It is a safe way to communicate," according to Jumping Kite.

The Internet also influences consumption habits. Zhang Meng is a high school student in Shanghai. He researches what he wants to buy through the Internet. "I have clear targets when consuming," said Zhang. "I like to buy new products, but I check them out on the Internet first."

Tense relationship

Born to single-child families, the post-90s generation is often regarded as spoiled. This accusation is leveled at them even more than it was at the post-80s generation, as they have generally grown up in better living conditions.