Silver surfers enjoy getting into music sharing, apps and emojis
Print Edition
When most of his friends are working in the fields, 53-year-old Jiang Licun is living a life of fame 鈥 on the Internet.
Putting on a headset, Jiang records a popular song on a singing app on his mobile phone and uploads it.
Within a few minutes, the song has more than 20 comments and some listeners give him virtual flowers as encouragement.
鈥淚 like reading the comments, and I usually reply one by one,鈥 said Jiang, a rural resident in east China鈥檚 Anhui Province.
The music sharing is Jiang鈥檚 favorite rest and probably sums up the lives of many the vast aging population in China.
This demography is considered the 鈥渦nconnected group鈥 in the Internet age, as many of them struggle with the devices and processes needed to gain access online.
But that might no longer be the case. According to a report by the China Internet Network Information Center, by the end of last June, of China鈥檚 751 million online population, 24.7 percent were aged 40 or above.
For many, online music platforms such as Tencent鈥檚 WeSing has created a new stage.
On the platforms, they can find songs produced in the 1980s and 1990s, connect with other 鈥渟ingers鈥 that share similar tastes, and even sing together with a complete stranger.
鈥淚 have uploaded 133 songs, and I have 442 followers on WeSing,鈥 Jiang said. 鈥淢y daughter said that I use the app much better than she does.鈥
By the end of 2016, more than 230 million Chinese were above the age of 60, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The government predicts the country鈥檚 elderly will account for about a quarter of the population by 2030.
In an era of information accessibility, many elderly people are beginning to explore the Internet to enrich their lives, particularly the popular messaging app WeChat.
Among the elderly who use WeChat, 98.5 percent chat, but about 70 percent also make videos, 40 percent pay phone bills, and 30 percent shop online, according to a report by Tencent and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Many also know how to make and send 鈥淗ongbao,鈥 red envelopes, on WeChat.
鈥淚 had a video chat with my grandson yesterday,鈥 said Pan Xuelan, 60. 鈥淗e looked fatter than last time.鈥 Pan鈥檚 daughter bought a smartphone for her and taught her how to use WeChat.
Elderly WeChat users have even created a series of special emojis that have various big characters and bright colors, and are usually filled with 鈥減ositive energy,鈥 according to a report by Tencent.
These emojis, which carry very traditional messages, such as 鈥淲ish you every success鈥 and 鈥淗ave a wonderful morning鈥 are considered out of date by many young people, but appeal to some due to their retro feel.
But as many elderly become more interested in the Internet, their children have expressed concern.
鈥淢y father is addicted to surfing the Internet these days,鈥 said Jiang Licun鈥檚 daughter. 鈥淗is eyesight is not every good, and I worry that replying messages on the singing platform will be bad for his health.鈥
Zhao Jie, a professor with Anhui University, said that the need for emotional communication and for socializing has prompted many elderly to explore the Internet.
鈥淭heir children should spend more time with them, and encourage them to go out rather than staying at home,鈥 Zhao said.
鈥淭heir lives will become more abundant with more companionship, and they will rely less on the Internet.鈥
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