Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

Adapting Chinese Media to the Needs of the Elderly in the New Media Age

Qi Chen, Nur Syuhada binti Mat Sin, Afeez Nawfal bin Mohd Isa

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i1/20622

Open access

This research explores the changing media landscape in China, focusing on the elderly population, which is expected to reach 470 million by 2050. Despite the rise of the internet and 5G technologies, this demographic largely depends on traditional media, highlighting a gap in media consumption. The study identifies challenges faced by the elderly, such as economic constraints, conservative views, and distrust in new technology, leading to their preference for traditional media. However, opportunities exist in developing media tailored to their needs, like healthcare and entertainment. The paper stresses the imbalance in media development, with a lack of specialized content for the elderly, and suggests strategies for enhancing media accessibility for this group. These strategies include creating humanistic, quality content, integrating new media formats, and fostering teams dedicated to elderly media. The conclusion calls for a media strategy shift, combining traditional reliability with innovative new media to engage the elderly population effectively.

Ahmed, A., Lawal, M., & Khan, H. T. A. (2022). Social Participation of the Elderly in China: The Roles of Conventional Media, Digital Access and Social Media Engagement. Conference on Social Participation of the Elderly.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363370856_Social_Participation_of_the_Elderly_in_China_The_Roles_of_Conventional_Media_Digital_Access_and_Social_Media_Engagement
Bai, X., & He, W. (2011). China: Awakening Giant Developing Solutions to Population Aging. The Gerontologist, 51(4), 429–437.
Burke, L. (2020). Adaptation in the Age of Media Convergence. Adaptation, 13(2), 270–273. https://doi.org/10.1093/adaptation/apaa021
Chafetz, P. K., Holmes, H., Lande, K., Childress, E., & Glazer, H. R. (1998). Older adults and the news media: Utilization, opinions, and preferred reference terms. The Gerontologist, 38(4), 481–489. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/38.4.481
Czaja, S. J., Charness, N., Fisk, A. D., Hertzog, C., Nair, S. N., Rogers, W. A., & Sharit, J. (2006). Factors predicting the use of technology: Findings from the center for research and education on aging and technology enhancement (create). Psychology and Aging, 21(2), 333–352. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.21.2.333
Fan, S., & Yang, Y. (2022). How Does Internet Use Improve Mental Health among Middle-Aged and Elderly People in Rural Areas in China? A Quasi-Natural Experiment Based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20), 13332. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013332
Flew, T. (2020). Media convergence. In Encyclopædia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/media-convergence
Kelly, C. M., Strauss, K., Arnold, J., & Stride, C. (2020). The relationship between leisure activities and psychological resources that support a sustainable career: The role of leisure seriousness and work-leisure similarity. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 117, 103340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2019.103340
Kelly, J. (2019). New funding models mean new ethical challenges for media companies. Center for Journalism Ethics. https://ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/2019/01/18/new-funding-models-mean-new-ethical-challenges-for-media-companies/
Liang, Y.-W., Wang, J., Yu, S.-P., Lin, J.-K., & Chung, A. (2022). Creating a Healthy Life for the Elderly through Participation in Self-Media: A Study on the Demands of the Elderly in Self-Media. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912774
Liu, C. (2023). China’s elderly population aged 60 and over reaches 280m, 19.8% of total. Global Times. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303684.shtml
Lule, J. (2018). 579Media Industry. In M. Juergensmeyer, S. Sassen, M. B. Steger, & V. Faessel (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Global Studies (p. 0). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190630577.013.43
McKenzie, G., & Frazier, S. (2022). The media habits of older and elderly audiences. Whatspossiblegroup.Com. https://whatspossiblegroup.com/knowledge/the-media-habits-of-older-and-elderly-audiences/
Metzger, M. J. (2017). 795Broadcasting versus Narrowcasting: Do Mass Media Exist in the Twenty-First Century? In K. Kenski & K. H. Jamieson (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Political Communication (p. 0). Oxford University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199793471.013.62_update_001
Nan, X. & Hu. (2023). Internet use and depression among Chinese older adults: The mediating effect of interpersonal relationship. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Nor, Z. bin M. (2023). New Media Development Between China and the United States. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341874223
Peng, Y. (2022). Forum discusses challenges, opportunities of aging China. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn
Phimolsathien, T. (2024). Guidelines for the adaptation of community radio (Business Type) in the age of media convergence and the emergence of digital radio. Kurdish Studies, 12(1), 56–69.
Rad, D., Egereu, A., Alina, R., Dughi, T., Balas, E., Maier, R., Ignat, S., & Rad, G. (2022). A Preliminary Investigation of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in Early Childhood Education and Care. BRAIN BROAD RESEARCH IN ARTIFICIAL IN?LIGENCE AND NEUROSCIENCE, 13, 518–533. https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/13.1/297
Reich, S. M., Yau, J. C., & Warschauer, M. (2016). Tablet-Based eBooks for Young Children: What Does the Research Say? Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics?: JDBP, 37(7), 585–591. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000000335
Shu, S., & Woo, B. K. P. (2020). Digital Media as a Proponent for Healthy Aging in the Older Chinese American Population: Longitudinal Analysis. JMIR Aging, 3(1), e20321. https://doi.org/10.2196/20321
Sun, X., Yan, W., Zhou, H., Wang, Z., Zhang, X., Huang, S., & Li, L. (2020). Internet use and need for digital health technology among the elderly: A cross-sectional survey in China. BMC Public Health, 20(1386). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09470-0
Tams, S., Czaja, S. J., Ketcham, C. J., McCrae, R., Martin, P., & Costa, P. T. (2014). New Rules of Engagement: How Adaptation To Online Media Changes Older Adults’ Social Connectedness. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication.
https://academic.oup.com/jcmc/article/19/3/563/4067276
Tan, J. (2023). Challenges and opportunities of an ageing population. https://group.pingan.com
Varnelis, K. (Ed.). (2008). Networked Publics. The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262220859.001.0001
Wang, X. (2021). Research on the Transformation and Development of Traditional Media in the New Media Era. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 9(3), 460–462. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2021.93029
Wangler, J., & Jansky, M. (2023). Media portrayal of old age and its effects on attitudes in older people: Findings from a series of studies. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10(1), 165. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01671-5
Wangler, L., & Jansky, M. (2020). Media portrayal of old age and its effects on attitudes in older people: Findings from a series of studies. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 7(1), 1–11.
Yang, H., Zhang, S., Zhang, S., Xie, L., Wu, Y., Yao, Y., Tang, L., & Li, Z. (2021). Internet Use and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults in China. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.739085
Yin, L., & Liu, X. (2014). A gesture of compliance: Media convergence in China. Media, Culture & Society, 36(5), 561–577. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443714532975
Zhang, X., & Ma, Y. (2021). Political communication in the age of media convergence in China. In Research Handbook on Political Propaganda (pp. 111–126). Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789906424.00015
Zhou, D., Xu, Y., & Ai, P. (2022). The Effects of Online Social Interactions on Life Satisfaction of Older Chinese Adults: New Insights Based on a Longitudinal Approach. Journal of Aging Studies, 57, 1014–1026.

(Chen et al., 2024)
Chen, Q., Sin, N. S. binti M., & Isa, A. N. bin M. (2024). Adapting Chinese Media to the Needs of the Elderly in the New Media Age. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(1), 3291–3298.