Paper short abstract:

This paper examines the impact of digital visual communication via smartphones on health and care in China. It demonstrates how the sharing of short videos (China) and visual messaging are part of emerging visual cultures and shifting practices of filial piety and peer-support.

Paper long abstract:

Understanding health and care in the digital age is critical given the challenges posed by the massive ageing population in China. This paper examines the impact of digital visual communication via smartphones upon health and care practices in China. The research informing this paper is drawn from long-term (Feb 2018 - June 2019) ethnography conducted as part of the ASSA project.

In Shanghai (China), sharing health-related short videos (duan shi pin) has gained popularity among retirees, not only as part of a daily practice of traditional Chinese 'body cultivation' (Yang sheng), but also as a popular way of expressing care among family and friends. Forms of care at a distance are practiced through the exchange of messages, photos, emojis and stickers (illustrated messages), and also through video calling.

With particular reference to everyday digital health and self-care practices among older people in China, this paper suggests that digital visual communication practices not only facilitate informal care and enabling new practices of peer-learning and peer-support in China, but also play an increasing important role in the medical communication between medical practitioners, older people and their families.