Yu's microblog has also helped raise public awareness of the problem. As Yu said, more people now know that "they can call the police when they see children younger than 14 begging."

It may even prompt social reform. Many provisions in the Chinese Constitution and Laws on the Protection of Minors expressly prohibit coercion, deception and the use of minors to beg, most of which, however, are only frameworks, without regulations for proper enforcement and punishment.

This new program will prompt the introduction of sound laws. Han Hong, a member of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultive Conference, has already announced he plans to submit proposals to promote such legislation.

Active public discussion has also exposed the complexity of the problem.

The reason why children trafficking and begging is relatively common in China is largely due to the flawed legal system and slack law enforcement. At the same time, the government's capacities are limited.

Some child beggars are run by vicious gangs who seek only profit, but others are the genuine children of destitute families, their begging the only way their parents can survive. If we rely only on severe laws to deal with such cases, we may hurt the vulnerable and cause more serious social problems.

Eradicating child begging depends on eliminating poverty and cracking down on criminals.

The "Take a snapshot and save the child beggars" initiative is more meaningful just because government capacity is limited. The public is stepping in to fill gaps in the government.

Under appropriate conditions, the citizen actions on the microblog may also develop into specialized NGO organizations, which can serve society and promote social progress in the long term.

The author is a Beijing-based IT industry commentator. forum@globaltimes.com.cn