When old age is no longer a moment of silence
Every day, Ms. Ping Bao records familiar moments: Weightlifting in the gym, a few light Yoga movements, a healthy meal or the outfit she chose to wear that day. At first glance, those contents easily make people think of a young creator. But Ping is 64 years old this year.
Stepping into the age of 64 does not mean life is over. Wrinkles and gray hair are my badges," she said in a 2025 year-end video posted on the Xiaohongshu application. This is a social networking platform specializing in sharing life experiences, popular in China.
With her active and cheerful demeanor, Ms. Ping has attracted more than 180,000 followers after 3 years of making vlogs. She is not an isolated case. Across China, more and more elderly people - from 60 and over - not only use social networks to watch but also actively create content.
Observers call them "silver-haired bloggers" - people who tell stories of their lives in the simplest way. According to Mr. Shi Cheng, professor of social policy and elderly research at Lingnan University (Hong Kong - China), it is the simplicity and lack of oversight that creates their own attraction.
Just being themselves - sharing hobbies, life lessons or everyday joys - they have brought a very different feeling compared to the elaborately produced content... Their perspective on history, culture and perseverance also helps connect generations" - Professor Cheng said.
Xinhua News Agency data from Xiaohongshu shows that by the end of 2024, this platform had more than 30 million monthly active users aged 60 and over. The number of elderly content creators has tripled in 2 years. On the social network Douyin (Chinese version of TikTok), in 2023 alone, users aged 50 and over created about 23 million videos per day.
Another typical face with the account name "Ms. Xixi" - 68 years old, shared about fashion, travel and even everyday moments when taking care of her grandchild. Her daily outfit photos attract tens of thousands of followers.
I am about to turn 69, from a retired grandmother taking care of a young grandchild to becoming a fashion blogger," she wrote in a post in January 2026. "When I was young, I was so busy that I couldn't learn anything new. It wasn't until I got older that I realized that if I didn't continue studying, life wouldn't improve" - she confided.
For Ms. Xixi, posting is not just sharing but also a way to learn, travel more and connect with people of the same interest. "It enriches my life," she said, while thanking more than 50,000 followers: "Although I am old, I am still full of positive energy.
This wave is not only limited to ordinary people but also attracts influential figures.
A fairly famous writer in China, 70 years old, also participates in social networks with millions of followers. He calls smartphones the "digital diary" of modern times: "You can write thoughts, take pictures, record videos. It's like a new diary".
From such simple sharing, a new way of connecting is gradually forming.
New connection, new joy
According to analysts, content created by the elderly often brings a more realistic feeling than young creators. Ms. Lai Ming Yii, a strategy expert at Daxue Consulting, commented: "They share life lessons naturally, creating empathy and nostalgia between generations.
Simple humor is also a point that attracts viewers. If young creators focus on trends and meticulous images, older people tell life stories in their own way - slowly, without being fussy.
Initially, those who followed them were mainly elderly people in small cities. But gradually, that content also attracted young people. According to Professor Shi Cheng, this comes from the fact that "silver-haired bloggers" often talk about sustainable values: traditional skills, life experiences and how to accept old age gently.
Ms. Ping Bao herself also went through a period of disorientation after retiring. In a video summarizing 2025, she recounted the time when she no longer had the habit of planning and taking notes as before.
I think retirement is freedom, no need to write anymore," she said and added: "But then I set a goal and couldn't do it, blamed myself and felt worried.
Without a plan, her life became directionless. It was not until she started making vlogs in her 60s that Ping returned to her old rhythm - planning and looking back at each day.
“The first live broadcast, my heart beat very fast, my voice trembled. But for me, it was a big step forward, stepping out of my own comfort zone” - Ms. Ping shared.
Those shares received many positive feedbacks, including many young people. A 25-year-old user commented: "I hope that when I am 60, I can also live like Ms. Ping".
According to experts, the fact that elderly people participate in creating content is a natural development from previous social media usage habits. From posts in the "Moments" section on WeChat - which is only displayed for friends - they gradually switch to open platforms such as Xiaohongshu or Douyin to reach more people.
Previously, the elderly in China were considered "sideliness" of the digital revolution. But now, smartphones have become almost absolutely popular. The July 2025 report of the China Internet Information Center said that the country has about 160 million Internet users aged 60 and over - equivalent to half of the elderly population.
WeChat has become a center for communication, payment and video calls; while Douyin or Kuaishou is the main source of entertainment. This change helps the elderly gain more independence, expand social relationships and find new communities.
However, along with opportunities are risks: online scams, misinformation, or excessive use of devices.
This is a major shift - from being marginalized to active participation, although sometimes still vulnerable" - Mr. Shi said. He believes that it is necessary to combine platform management, digital skills improvement and direct community activities to ensure a balanced spiritual life for the elderly.
Meanwhile, businesses are also starting to pay attention to the "silver-haired economy" - products and services for the elderly. Platforms like Hongsong, launched in 2020, providing courses, social activities and life services for retirees, have attracted more than 10 million users.
This idea originated from very ordinary observations. Founder Li Qiao realized that his mother after retirement often only surfed the phone or played mahjong, while the previous generation maintained many activities such as writing calligraphy, painting or translating books. "The entertainment method based solely on the phone does not bring true happiness," he said.
Perhaps, that gap has been partially filled by "silver-haired bloggers" like Ping or Xixi. They not only tell their own stories, but also open up a different image of old age - not passive, not quiet, but still learning, connecting and enjoying life in their own way.
In the digital world, where everything changes every day, their wrinkles and gray hair are no longer a sign of closing. Sometimes, it can be the starting point for a new journey - where old age is lived fully and happily in a very modern way.
