Internet as a compromise

Comment on "Empty nests a social issue" (China Daily, July 23)

The tradition of children taking care of elderly parents made sense among rural populations in the old days, especially for people who didn't have easy access to medical care or affordable living. Children shouldering moral and social responsibilities, too, made good sense then.

In more urban societies, many systems are in place to provide services for senior citizens and set elderly parents' children free to pursue their dreams with more independence from parental responsibilities. This is an ongoing part of modernization in China.