Staring at screens for hours on end, refusing to leave the apartment; scrolling through short videos until the wee hours, collecting mostly fake science content and misleading ads... Once a headache for parents, internet-addicted teens have now been replaced by a growing number of seniors hooked on short videos, becoming the new generation of "internet-addicted seniors."
Why are seniors hooked on short videos? How can we prevent it? Experts explain that unlike complex websites or apps, short video platforms lower the barrier to entry for seniors—just tap to watch, swipe to refresh. On the other hand, having come online later in life, seniors experience far greater novelty from the internet than younger generations, making them more susceptible to addiction and scams.However, accessing the internet is an important way for seniors to re-engage with society after retirement. A balanced approach combining guidance and support is needed, with collaborative efforts to steer them in the right direction.
Case Study: Father Tricked into Buying Thousands of Yuan Worth of Courses
Scrolling through my phone until midnight, I now understand how my parents felt when they worried I'd get hooked on gaming. Mr. Wang's mother recently became obsessed with short videos, leaving him with mixed feelings."I was happy that she found something enjoyable to do after retirement," Wang said. "But constantly glued to her phone, never going out, and with irregular sleep patterns—I'm genuinely worried her health can't handle it."The internet is full of dubious science and wellness videos that appeal to seniors. My mom often forwards them to me—things like "cure illnesses with a finger tap"—most lacking any scientific basis.
Similar to Mr. Wang's situation, Ms. Zhang has been troubled lately by her father's online scams.In April this year, Ms. Zhang's father saw a video titled "Heiniu Purchase" on a short video platform, claiming that various branded phones could be "flash-sold" for just one yuan. After clicking the video, the elderly man was persuaded to spend 15 yuan on a membership card. Only after purchasing the card did he realize that the so-called one-yuan flash sales were extremely rare.
This wasn't the first time her father had been scammed. Ms. Zhang said helplessly.Last year, while scrolling through short videos, he saw an investment course advertised with a trial session costing just over ten yuan. After signing up, he was added to a WeChat group where he ended up purchasing courses worth thousands of yuan. "The group's sales tactics felt like brainwashing pyramid schemes—utterly unreliable," Zhang said. Thanks to her timely intervention, her father stopped buying more courses. Journalists have observed that short video platforms' ability to consume time has grown increasingly potent in recent years.According to QuestMobile's 2020 Silver-Haired Population Insight Report, among over 100 million elderly mobile internet users, watching short videos has become the primary form of entertainment. Survey data from May 2020 showed that on several major short video platforms, middle-aged and elderly users averaged 1,500 minutes per month on a single platform.
Shortcomings: Elderly Anti-Addiction Systems Remain Underdeveloped
Why do seniors become addicted to short videos? Jin Yong'ai, Associate Professor at Renmin University's School of Sociology and Population Studies, explains that compared to younger generations raised in the internet era, seniors have shorter exposure to online environments. The novelty of the internet holds far greater appeal for them, making addiction more likely. Moreover, seniors are also a high-risk group susceptible to deception.Research indicates that most seniors will trust content simply if it bears labels like "authoritative media report" or "research by X University."
While multiple short video platforms have launched youth modes, systems to prevent elderly users from becoming addicted remain largely absent. Reporters noted that major platforms currently lack dedicated modes for seniors, with few special provisions regarding screen time limits or mechanisms for refunds after fraud incidents.
In response, Jin Yong'ai suggests that platforms could emulate youth protection modes by creating senior modes. These could help filter out content prone to deception, set viewing time limits, and remind seniors to avoid excessive use.
Recommendations
Combine Restriction with Guidance
What should I do if my dad has become an "internet-addicted senior"? Faced with increasing requests for help, Zhang Xin, Associate Professor at Peking University's School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, believes that while youth internet addiction often stems from unsuccessful socialization and maturation, elderly addiction arises from unsuccessful aging.Drawing from parenting experience, lecturing rarely works—emotional connection and companionship prove most effective.
Zhang advises children to avoid confrontational approaches like blame or correction when discussing this with parents. Instead, emphasize the importance of maintaining a close relationship, respecting parental authority, and acknowledging their contributions. Crucially, prioritize providing emotional companionship.
Internet use among the elderly also has positive effects. Surveys indicate that seniors who access the internet and watch short videos generally report higher levels of happiness and fulfillment than those who do not. Additionally, their intergenerational relationships tend to be more harmonious. Jin Yong'ai suggests that guiding the silver generation online should combine both encouragement and appropriate intervention.