Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

Capabilities Over Feelings: Digital Literacy, Short Video Engagement, and Aging Expectations among Older Adults in China

Yuchen HuThe Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

China is experiencing rapid population aging and fast adoption of short video platforms among older adults, and Douyin has become a major source of information and entertainment for this group. Whether educational level influences the way older adults engage with short video content, and whether such engagement in turn influences how they expect their later life, remains underdeveloped. This study uses a cross-sectional survey of 127 older adults aged 60 and above in Maojian District, Shiyan, to examine relationships between education, mode of engagement, digital literacy, content response, perceived influence, and aging expectations. Results of Chi-square tests and Spearman rank correlations suggest that educational level is significantly associated with mode of engagement and with response to family-related content. Digital literacy is significantly associated with more optimistic aging expectations, whereas perceived influence from short video content is not. The findings demonstrate that what older adults can actually do on a platform matters more than how strongly they feel they are being influenced by it.

Keywords: Older adults; Douyin; Digital literacy; Aging expectations; Short Videos
Published: June 29, 2026
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2026.34860
Volume: CHR Vol.112
pp. 9-19
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