Chinese older adults' social media use: a study of WeChat from a social practice perspective

2023/10/07 by Brad McKenna, Wenjie Cai, Hyunsun Yoon · 1 voice
Business, Management and Accounting · Social Sciences · #Impact of Technology on Adolescents #Sharing Economy and Platforms #Technology Use by Older Adults

paper · doi:10.1108/itp-10-2022-0787

openalex publication_date 2023/10/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

Purpose Research into older adults' use of social media remains limited. Driven by increasing digitalisation in China, the authors focus on Chinese older adults (aged 60–75)’ use of WeChat. Design/methodology/approach This study used a qualitative interpretive approach and interviewed Chinese older adults to uncover their social practices of WeChat use in everyday life. Findings By using social practice theory (SPT), the paper unfolds Chinese older adults' social practices of WeChat use in everyday life and reveals how they adopt and resist the drastic changes in Chinese society. Originality/value The study contributes to new understandings of SPT from technology use by emphasising the dynamic characteristics of its three elements. The authors synthesise both adoptions and resistance in SPT and highlight the importance of understanding three elements interdependently within specific contexts, which are conditioned by structure and agency.

Citations

• User Acceptance of Computer Technology: A Comparison of Two Theoretical Models
• Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media
• Older Consumers, Digital Marketing, and Public Policy: A Review and Research Agenda
• Do social networking sites promote life satisfaction? The explanation from an online and offline social capital transformation

Discussions

• Our paper “Chinese Older Adults’ Social Media Use: A Study of WeChat from a Social Practice Perspective” is published. We explore how Chinese older adults use #WeChat in an increasingly digitalised Ch [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]

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