The loneliness of silver social media users: the mediating role of SNS

With the emergence of smart phones, online social networking sites (SNSs) have already changed the way people interact with others in the digital era (Vromen et al., 2015). WeChat, a most popular social media online application in China (CNNIC, 2016), is playing a pivotal role with 1.58 billion monthly active users (Tencent, 2018). Similar to some popular instant communication applications (WhatsApp, Line, Facebook Messenger), WeChat is considered as a mobile multipurpose messaging application, which provides text messaging, hold-to-talk voice message, video and audio calls et al. WeChat data shows that in September 2016, the number of WeChat active users over 55 years old was 7.68 million, and by September 2017 it had reached 50 million. More and more older people are integrating to the cyber world and growing older in the information age. But in comparison with the youth, especially undergraduates, few studies pay attention to the elder groups. Therefore, the social effects and social influences of social networking sites (SNSs) on seniors have become the main focus of this paper.

After retired from work or growing old, the seniors are facing the decreasing social capital and increasing loneliness. Everyone may have a chance to suffer loneliness at different age ranges, the old is not the unique group to experience loneliness (Dykstra, 2009). While the seniors are considered as the major suffers (Victor et al. 2002). Social networking sites (SNSs), especially WeChat, are of great importance for the seniors to maintain and develop their social network and social capital in China. Lots of researches found that the Internet usage is able to raise social network size, contributing to generate or maintain social capital (Hampton & Ling, 2013, Steinfield et al., 2008), alleviating loneliness and improving psychological well-being among seniors (Chan, 2013; Choi & DiNitto, 2013; Coll-Planas, Del Valle Gómez, Bonilla, Masat, Puig & Monteserin, 2017; Pfeil, Arjan & Zaphiris, 2009; Russell, Campbell & Hughes, 2008; Sum, Mathews, Pourghasem & Hughes, 2008).

The overarching goal of this study is to understand and examine the implications of using WeChat for social capital (bonding social capital and bridging social capital) and lowliness, among Chinese ‘silver surfers’. Based on an online survey (n = 305), we found that the WeChat use is significantly associated with social capital and loneliness in the group of people aged above 50, but there is a non-significant correlation between social capital and loneliness. Some scholars encourage seniors to embrace the digital age, but is it the more the better? No. In this study we found that it’s not healthy for the seniors to immerse in the SNSs too long, which would lead loneliness, according to the currently data. So we hold the belief that the seniors are not supposed to spend too much time on WeChat to enjoy the virtue world.