Notice: the WebSM website has not been updated since the beginning of 2018.

Web Survey Bibliography

Title Ethnographic research on the experience of Japanese elderly people online
Source New Media & Society, 5, 2, pp. 267-288
Year 2003
Database EBSCOhost
Access date 14.07.2004
Abstract Elderly people in Japan are becoming part of virtual communities. This article explores the online experience of such people, how they interact with others and how they construct social support relationships via computer-mediated communication (CMC). This ethnographic research, through participant observation and in-depth interviews, reveals that these elderly people enjoy interaction in a variety of language forms, ranging from haiku to emoticons, by combining traditional text-based Japanese culture with a new virtual culture, despite the limitations of text-based communication. Also, both the immediacy and asynchrony of CMC helps them to construct real human relationships in the virtual community, including social connectedness to others as well as supportive and companionship relationships. The elderly people could create a sense of greater propinquity by sharing their old stories and memories.
Access/Direct link EBSCOhost (abstract)
Year of publication2003
Bibliographic typeJournal article
Print

Web survey bibliography - Japan (20)