The term first came into use in mainland China, where online communities began to refer to themselves as wǎngmín (网民, literally "net-citizen") and wǎngyǒu (网友, literally "net-friend"). 
Kwa mara ya kwanza neno hilo lilianza kutumika katika China ambapo jamii waliokuwa wanatumia mtandao nchini humo walianza wenyewe kujiita wǎngmín (yaani "raia -mtandaoni") na wǎngyǒu (yaani "rafiki -mtandaoni").