Digital firms draw hope from elderly on social media

The internet is no longer the exclusive domain of young Chinese as a growing number of middle-aged and elderly people in the country are embracing technology and becoming more proficient in using social media, a new industry report said on Monday.

More than 98 percent of the middle-aged and elderly people covered in the study, who are largely people aged over 50, use social media applications like WeChat and over 80 percent of them can upload photos and video, send messages and keep in touch with friends and family using the various functions, according to a report released by Tencent Holdings Ltd and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Such data could prove to be sweet music for Chinese internet companies that are looking to expand their services and business to a wider cross-section of the society.