Aging-people Meet New Media, What Would Happen?

In recent years, More and More aging-people learned to connect kids through WeChat, showing their travel photos in friends circle, even ordering taxi on APP. They have greatly interests in social connect, reading or shopping.

Actually, aging-people is not simply same with traditional media audience with the popularization of new media, which influenced their media consumption habit deeply. They are enjoying a new life style from the help of new media. New media era meet aging society, what would happen?

1. A steady rising in elderly netizens
According to the 35th Chinese Internet Development Report, Chinese internet users reached 649million till Dec, 2014. The proportion of internet users in aged 60 or above increased to 2.4% from 1.9% in 2013, which only 0.7% in 2011. Which means the Chinese netizens aged 60 or above over 15million from 3.6million in 2011. The main reason is the popularization of internet access environment and wider range of media, which improve the opportunity for them to contact internet. In 2015, the aging population has more than 200million in China. They have more spare time and few channels to take part in social activities, causing media as the main way to get information, especially in TV and newspaper.

2. The picture about aging-Netizens in China
In 2010, a research from Peking University reveals that the people earliest contact new media have the following characteristics in common, such as low age, good eyesight, higher educational level, good economic conditions and the ability to bear purchase computer and mobile phone.

3. Family member is the internet connect guider
A survey from Shanghai reveals that aging people have willing to attempt new media and mixed mediums.
At the attempt period, family members played the role of guider. New media to a family means closed family through connection occurred on WeChat or enriched life for aging-people through watching internet video. As for the young generation, they can provide spiritual support to parents through the interaction in virtual space. As for the aging-people, new media can help them to create a new lifestyle and keep the ability to connect with the society.

4. A variety of measures to activate aging-people’s energy
How to transform aging-people to the new media user? we can start from several aspects as following. Firstly, refigure aging-people’s image through new media, Cultivating their interests in new media filed. Secondly, help them to know the intelligent and humanized function of new media. Let aging-people to perceive new media, to love it even to use it as a common action one day through scene performance. Thirdly, widen aging-people’s using channel. We can help them to Improve their abilities such as looking for information, using information and providing information. At the same time, we can supply the convenience to them to give their views and suggestions. Last but not least, don’t underestimate aging-people’s energy in new media environment. Their experiences will prompt them sharing their life wisdom after knowing new media well.