The Role of WeChat in Supporting Elderly Connectivity During COVID-19 Lockdown in Guangzhou

Abstract

This research investigates the motivations and impacts of WeChat usage among older adults in Guangzhou during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Through qualitative interviews, this study explores how older adults in Guangzhou emotionally experience WeChat use during the lockdown. Findings indicate that WeChat played a vital role during the pandemic, facilitating emotional connections, daily life needs, information access, and positive psychological development among older adults. It fostered socialization, emotional support, and resilience, challenging conventional notions of elderly social media usage and highlighting diverse technological habits. Theoretical implications emphasize WeChat’s multi-functionality and the varied ways older individuals employ it. Practical implications stress the importance of social media in enhancing social participation and quality of life for older adults, especially in combating loneliness. WeChat’s utility during emergencies, like epidemics, is underscored. Addressing the digital divide and ensuring equitable digital access are crucial to preventing older individuals’ marginalization in the digital age. The study acknowledges limitations, including a small sample size and focus on a specific urban area. Future research directions involve expanding the sample, employing quantitative methods, enhancing sample representativeness, and examining diverse regions and demographics. Ongoing studies can capture evolving usage patterns and experiences of older adults in a changing technological and societal landscape.