How can I help elderly people make better decisions when they buy pharmaceutical products on social media in China?

About

Helping elderly people make better decisions when buying pharmaceutical products on social media in China is a critical issue due to the increasing influence of digital platforms on purchasing behaviors, especially for vulnerable populations like seniors. In recent years, social media platforms such as WeChat, Weibo, and Douyin (Chinese TikTok) have become significant channels for product promotions, including health and pharmaceutical products. However, this has also led to challenges, particularly for older adults, who may lack the digital literacy, critical thinking skills, or the ability to assess the reliability and safety of online information.

What is it?

This question is the most asked question since I started this project. What is this project about? Are there really elderly people who buy pharmaceutical products on social media? This part mainly reflects my secondary research.

Why?

I first heard about this topic 10 years ago, and I still remember the bewilderment I felt when I witnessed the whole thing. My grandmother used most of her savings to buy pharmaceutical products on social media despite her family’s objections. As a result, there were a lot of quarrels and relationship breakdowns in my family, and even the police came in to mediate them. It is precisely because of this impressive personal experience that I have a deep resonance and continuous research enthusiasm for this topic. This part mainly reflects my primary research.

How?

The project started in April 2024 and lasted for a total of 8 months. The study process was divided into four phases, corresponding to the four interventions in the catalog.

Author