Digital Anticipation: Facilitating the Pre-Emptive Futures of Chinese Grandparent Migrants in Australia

Abstract

In this article, we contrast the digital kinning and digital homing practices of PRC Chinese transnational grandparents in Australia from two migration cohorts. Our case studies demonstrate that these digital practices form an integral part of the ability to anticipate aging futures. This “digital anticipation” not only helps to safeguard and affirm social and cultural identities that are often at risk as people age in migrant settings, but also provides the potential to imagine either a future return to China that involves physical separation from children and grandchildren, or, conversely, a future lived in Australia while still maintaining connection and participating digitally in affective economies that extend beyond the nuclear family to encompass siblings, friends, and lifelong workmates. Here the role of facilitated digital access is highlighted as a form of care that can be provided by younger generations.

Migrant visits over time: Ethnographic returning and the technological turn

“…Our data clearly indicate that access to digital kinning and digital homing practices can significantly improve the social support and cultural and social identities and dignity of older adults in residential care (Baldassar et al., 2021). Currently, there is no policy governing digital access in care homes, and provision is patchy, with many homes existing in ‘black spots’ (Baldassar et al., 2022).…”

“…Our data clearly indicate that access to digital kinning and digital homing practices can significantly improve the social support and cultural and social identities and dignity of older adults in residential care (Baldassar et al, 2021).…”

Cross-border ageing in China’s Greater Bay Area in the digital age: A comparative study of mobile application adoption by Hong Kong older migrants and local older adults in Shenzhen

“…Regarding the digital gap, findings were mixed for older migrants’ attitudes towards digital adaptation in studies of different host and home regions. For example, Baldassar et al’s (2022) study on Chinese grandparent migrants in Australia found that older migrants become more motivated and active in learning to use digital technologies after migration. However, Goodall et al’s (2010) study on Italian/Greek older migrants in Australia (i.e.…”

“…Existing literature demonstrates the context-specific responses of older migrants to the digital gap, their patterns of use in the host region, as well as how digital use impacts their integration and everyday lives in the host region. Previous research found that mobile app adoption in host region is dependent on older migrants’ socio-demographics, reasons for migration, and host- and home-region characteristics such as digitalization level (Baldassar et al, 2022; Goodall et al, 2010; Hunter, 2015; Nguyen et al, 2022). In the context of the GBA, existing research on cross-border ageing engaged by Hong Kong older adults in the GBA has mainly focused on cross-border portability of welfare (Cao, 2020), while social inclusion and the way their everyday lives are influenced by the digital gaps in terms of mobile app adoption lack comprehensive investigation.…”

Chinese grand(parenting) encourages a re‐imagining of Canada's immigration regime

“…Grandparents play an important role in instructing their grandchildren in religious, cultural, and family values, promoting bilingualism, and introducing them to extended family. Co‐residing grandparents often undertake substantial caring and domestic responsibilities (Baldassar et al., 2022; Ho & Chiu, 2020; Schuler et al., 2022); however, they are sometimes susceptible to depression, loneliness, and mental distress (Ferrer et al., 2020; Guruge et al., 2019). There is limited academic and policy attention paid to transnational globalized and flexible families despite their increasing prevalence in Canada (Mujahid et al., 2011) and the strong presence of family reunification in Canada's immigration framework (Gaucher, 2018).…”