Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Digitalization has been identified as one of the most significant trends that change society, business, and people’s lives and has attracted academic attention from different fields. This study aims to investigate how digitalization, with the adoption of far-ranging digital technologies, has changed individuals’ lifestyles in China. WeChat was taken as an example to illustrate how digital social media, a typical digital technology, penetrates every aspect of individuals’ life and thus changes people’s lifestyles. To obtain in-depth insights about individuals’ perceptions and views towards the influence of WeChat, a semi-structured interview was conducted. Thirty respondents were interviewed, and three functionalities, namely Chats, Official Accounts and WeChat Pay, emerged as the most influential and were selected for detailed discussion. With cultural studies theories and through detailed analysis, the paper found that empowered by digital technologies, Chats has transformed individuals’ communicative practices to be hyper-texted and highly interactive; Official Accounts has created a platform for individuals to follow news and express ideas, a practice that was confined to professionals only; thus, a publishing public has emerged; and WeChat Pay has revolutionized how people shop and consume and access civil service. That is, the lifestyle of individuals is digitalized in China.
Author: Ru Ying
Institution: Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
Language: English
Subfield: Computer Networks and Communications
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3015215527