Chinese older adults' social media use: a study of WeChat from a social practice perspective
通过访谈60-75岁中国老年人，研究他们如何在日常生活中使用微信，揭示他们如何采纳和抵抗社会变化，对理解技术使用中的社会实践理论有新贡献。
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.