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

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McKenna, Brad ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2219-7508, Cai, Wenjie and Yoon, Hyunsun (2023) Chinese older adults’ social media use: A study of WeChat from a social practice perspective. Information Technology & People. ISSN 0959-3845

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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.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: chinese,older adults,qualitative,social media,social practice theory,wechat,information systems,computer science applications,library and information sciences ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1700/1710
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Innovation, Technology and Operations Management
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 15 Sep 2023 11:30
Last Modified: 21 Oct 2023 00:46
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/93049
DOI: 10.1108/ITP-10-2022-0787

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