It makes it easier to live in a bubble where you are not in China but in China. Basically staying at home, avoiding the locals and retaining through the internet some semblance of normal life and something familiar.

It gives you those small comforts that you would otherwise go without. Sports (streams, results, forums, discussions) emails(family, friends, photos) phone calls, news (real news)

Well technology gives you that outside like that keeps you sane. But then being in the middle of a sea of what seem like crazy people at times, the sanity that technology has allowed you to keep is the same thing that makes you realize you are trapped in said sea. So it keeps you from drinking the koolaid but you have the knowledge everyone else as partaken.

So does it make life here easier or harder? ... Yes.

Technology has made it easier if you work and live in another country, up-to a point. Get out and breath the air and touch the ground and make the most of your trip and your time here, but when you go home your friends will probably not want to know... too me that is sad, because in the past people had an interest in what International travellers did and experienced. I hope I am not generalising

Technology is the only reason I am in this country . If I had to be completely submerged in this sea of ridiculousness with no outlet or cheap/easy means of connecting with people I actually like, I would for sure never have come , or left soon after .

we all becoming slave to technology thought it made it easier but without it we are nothing, can anyone wash 20 clothes with bare hands without having washing machine now, can some body walk for 50 kms, can a person stop doing using cellphone or internet, see they are all machines, first i am slave to it and besides me every one having access to any small technology or machine

didn't have wechat back then . QQ was the king
wow things have changed even more in the last 5 years

Technologies of communication and logistics have made it possible to live in a bubble.

Even though the internet is rubbish in China, increased server speeds and VPNs allow you to cut yourself off from the local intranet and to stay in touch with your country.

With the addition of smartphones you can even do the above anywhere you go.

Logistics allow you to get familiar comfort food and quality products from back home, as well as the local junk if you want to, without leaving your home.

You can basically cut yourself off from the insanity of China nowadays, which you couldn't some 10-15 years ago.

But then, China wasn't as hostile against Foreigners neither as polluted back then, it's a pro for a con.

Technology has made it easier for me to reach insanity.

Now after a long day of paranoia (double checking that the local stores and drivers aren't cheating me out of my money), rude behavior, long awkward stares, avoiding stupid racially centered questions, etc. I can finish the daymare with some good old cancerous youtube comments, news of the latest apoclapyse, and facebook NWO hysteria posts!

Nothing quite as invigorating as jumping out of a burning plane into a volcano!