A Study Of Mobile Phone Use Among Rural Older Adults From A Lifeworld Perspective

With the development of Internet technology,cell phones are commonly used in people’s daily life.Compared with urban areas,the construction of basic communication equipment and the digitalization process in rural areas are slow,and the cell phone usage behavior of rural elderly groups in their daily lives has not been widely noticed and studied.By understanding the daily needs and life experiences of rural elderly people,perceiving their consideration of cell phone use,and examining the gap between elderly people and technology from the perspective of the digital divide,we can help them achieve a happier and healthier life in their old age.Based on behavioral research in the field of sociology,this paper adopts a life-world theory perspective,and through a field survey in X County,Qinghai Province,it focuses on the cell phone use behavior of rural elderly people,especially on the motivation of some groups to refuse to use cell phones,and tries to explore the relationship between the elderly and technology through a microcosmic presentation of the daily life world of rural elderly people in ethnic and remote areas of China.Through the observation of the daily life of the elderly in X County,I found that the cell phone use of the study subjects showed the behavioral characteristics of "weak use and strong refusal".After analyzing the relevant literature and conducting in-depth field research,we attempted to explain the motives of cell phone rejection in terms of three explanatory latitudes: "self" identity,weak family support,and social support from acquaintances.The study found that: firstly,there are differences in the cell phone use behaviors of the rural elderly group,which are different from the disparity presented in the digital divide theory,and are influenced by the physical condition,living habits,education level and practical needs of the elderly.A small number of elderly people are cell phone enthusiasts,while most of them are indifferent to or reject cell phones.Elderly people usually make rational choices about whether to use cell phones based on their own experiences,needs and living habits.Secondly,from the perspective of family support,the digital divide theory suggests that family provides important support for the elderly to bridge the digital divide,but due to children going out to work,tension between the two sides,and less mutual communication,the elderly in rural areas receive less family support at the technical level,but receive stronger material support.Finally,the need for cell phone contact is somewhat eliminated by the fact that the acquaintance society consists of a tightly knit network of local and personal ties,i.e.,peer partners,neighbors,and members of third-party service organizations that provide de facto help for their life difficulties.Together,these three factors motivate rural older adults to refuse(and less often use)cell phones.Through the analysis of the cell phone use behaviors of the elderly and the motivation of cell phone refusal,I believe that the emotional needs of the elderly in rural X County and their strong desire to interact with others need more attention and satisfaction.At the same time,we also see that when the elderly group meets with technology,it is not entirely passive,but should return to the daily life of the elderly group to discover their own life wisdom and ability to use technology,so that technology can better help the elderly in their old age.