Translated with AI
As of June 2025, there were 161 million internet users aged 60 and over in China. In other words, every second senior citizen has access to digital life, which not only signifies an increase in the popularity of technology in the country but also a significant change in the lifestyles of older people.
Looking at the data, this figure has increased approximately 19-fold over the past 15 years. In 2010, the number of older adults in the country with internet experience was less than 10 million.
According to the "Blue Book on Promoting Online Digital Consumption" published by the China Network Information Science Center in 2024, the online shopping rate of elderly internet users in China reached 69.8 percent. Furthermore, consumption indicators in the healthcare, entertainment, and tourism sectors were strong.
Two years ago, 63-year-old Fan Yingfang moved from a village in Henan Province (central China) to the city of Xi'an (Shaanxi Province, northwest China) to help raise her daughter. But the difference between city and village life left her uncomfortable. "I spent days without leaving the house, was in a bad mood, often snapped at my family, and even wanted to go back to the village."
Her daughter taught her how to use WeChat, watch short videos on social media, and use GPS. She now has over 20 apps installed on her phone, and new messages are constantly appearing in various chats. "Every day has something to do, and it's significantly improved her mood," she said.
Fan Yechao, Associate Professor of the Department of Sociology at China's Central University for Nationalities, noted that the internet has already become an important tool for older adults in combating loneliness and maintaining social connections. Besides providing convenience in everyday life, internet use also helps them feel important.
Jin Yong'ai, a professor at the Institute of Population and Health Sciences at Renmin University of China, noted that older adults use communication and online payment functions almost as much as younger people. The generational gap in the use of other apps, such as online shopping, taxi hailing, and ticket booking, also continues to narrow. "Diverse online behavior dispels the stereotype that 'older people only watch videos.'"
It's worth noting that digital entertainment is no longer the exclusive preserve of young people. It has become a platform for older people to express themselves and overcome age stereotypes. While watching videos on social media is considered the "entry level" of the older generation's entry into the digital world, creating short videos marks their transition from passive recipients of information to active content creators.
According to a survey conducted by researchers at Beijing Normal University, among 2,000 internet users aged 55 to 83, more than 75 percent of respondents have experience creating short videos, and over 27 percent even regularly publish such content.
A striking example of this is the amateur internet group "Three Green Onions." Its core members are three villagers over 60 years old from Pucheng County (Shaanxi Province, Northwest China). Having worked their entire lives on the land, they could never have imagined that in their old age they would become internet celebrities.
Their short videos, filmed in realistic everyday settings and using a simple, straightforward style, have garnered a combined 15 billion views across all social media platforms in the country.
"I never thought life could be so fulfilling!" shared team member Lu Wanrong, adding that filming video content also contributed to the development of related industries in the village.
"Short video platforms are characterized by low requirements for video content, simple management, and easy distribution, combining entertainment and social functions," said Wang Lili, a leading researcher at the China Research Center on Aging.
In her view, such self-expression breaks the established image of silent and passive older people, giving them new space for expression and self-confidence.
It should be noted that in recent years, China has consistently implemented a series of policies aimed at building a smart society that takes into account the needs of the elderly and promoting smart services tailored to them, in order to improve digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness among the older generation.
By the end of 2024, more than 3,000 websites and apps closely related to the lives of seniors and people with disabilities have been adapted to the needs of the elderly and made more accessible. Basic telecommunications companies have introduced dedicated hotlines for seniors, providing a total of nearly 650 million services.
Many experts believe that in the digital space, older adults have ceased to be objects to be defined or cared for. Some have even become content creators, sharing their stories and gaining recognition and respect from others, which has positive implications for mental health in later life.
From digital outsiders to active users, the digital world is conquering the older generation. For the 161 million elderly people in China, technology is no longer just a tool, but a source of new opportunities that enrich their everyday lives with convenience, richness, and vibrancy.
Thanks to the systematic adaptation of services and the development of digital literacy, in the future, more and more people of "silver age" in China will erase the boundaries of the digital divide and confidently enter the digital age.
