Silver netizens as digital residents: exploring the daily digital experience of senior netizens in China

Abstract

The last few decades have witnessed the penetration of digital technologies in all aspects of everyday life. The emergence of new technologies has come in parallel with opportunities and challenges to the world. While technological advancements are seen as societal advancement and beneficial for most, they can also exacerbate inequalities for groups not prioritised or included in the development of digital technologies, leading to greater social exclusion. Influenced by individual and social factors, older generation could encounter more challenges than their younger counterparts in the digital world. The difficult circumstances for the older population concerned researchers thereby promoting studies working on the intergenerational digital divide. However, the existence of digital ageism within the progress of research and technology design is widening the digital divide, reinforcing the negative stereotype towards older population, and exacerbating digital inequalities. A growing number of scholars are embarking on dispelling the myths of older people’s digital use, breaking down prejudice and stereotypes towards their digital practices. Despite growing efforts were made, most existing research has been conducted in Western countries. It is necessary to provide empirical data on the digital daily lives and experiences of older adults in other countries around the world. From a moderate social constructionism perspective, this study explored the digital experiences in everyday lives of Chinese silver netizens, inviting participants to interpret their experiences of digital use, intergenerational interactions, and digital inclusion in everyday life, and assign significance to these aspects. The study reveals that the digital activities of silver netizens primarily address practical needs such as socialising, information acquisition, and entertainment, with smartphones serving as central tools bridging their physical and digital realities. Older adults actively engage with platforms like WeChat, Taobao, and Alipay, creating personalised “digital spaces” akin to living rooms, study rooms, and playgrounds. The findings also highlight significant heterogeneity in their digital practices, challenging stereotypes and underscoring the importance of age-friendly designs. In terms of intergenerational digital interactions, the study emphasises the role of younger family members as “warm experts” while acknowledging the limitations of relying solely on this dynamic. Peer support emerges as an effective alternative. Silver netizens recognise significant generational differences in digital confidence, usage, and device needs. Additionally, the presence of “digital leaders” among older adults, who excel in and teach digital technologies, challenges stereotypes about their technological abilities and redefines perceptions of digital ageism. Finally, the research underscores the challenges and opportunities of digital inclusion for urban older adults in China. While digital inclusion initiatives in China are relatively new and lag behind developed countries, participants recognised the positive impact of existing training programs and called for improvements. They stressed the importance of user-friendly, simplified designs, particularly in emergency response and intelligent automation, to ease learning burdens and support daily life, including caregiving challenges in one-child families. Aligning policies and services with the specific needs of older adults is crucial for practical and accessible digital inclusion, fostering empowerment rather than adding burdens. Despite its limitations, this research challenges stereotypes about older adults' digital practice and contributes to a deeper understanding of their interactions with digital technologies.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Daniel Ashton: orcid.org/0000-0002-3120-1783

ORCID for Yuanyuan Yin: orcid.org/0000-0002-2109-0135

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