Let us Meet Online! Examining the Factors Influencing Older Chinese’s Social Networking Site Use

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the factors influencing older Chinese's social networking site (SNS) use and to help older people live a better life in this technology-oriented world. A proposed model composed of eight hypotheses was built according to Diffusion of Innovation Theory and was tested via 726 valid data points. The empirical results show that technical compatibility and relative advantages as technical factors and Internet self-efficacy as a personal cognitive factor promote older people's SNS use. Technical complexity as a technical factor and Internet anxiety as a personal cognitive factor hinder older people's SNS use. Social support as a facilitating condition alleviates the negative effects of technical complexity and Internet anxiety and enhances the positive effect of Internet self-efficacy. Gender differences and health status differences are significant. Older men are more likely to use SNSs than older women; older adults in poor physical health condition are more likely to use SNSs compared with those in good health. Compared with older people in Western countries, older Chinese's SNS use does show some differences: 1) gender differences are significant with males having a stronger intention to use SNSs; 2) older people face severe digital divide because technical factors show stronger power in predicting their SNS use; 3) older people need social support to assist their SNS use, but their social support mainly comes from age peers rather than young people.