The contemporary world is facing a dual acceleration of population aging and new media evolution. Whether the use of new media can mitigate aging challenges, especially in underdeveloped regions, and provide relief strategies for elderly care at both material and spiritual levels, is a topic worthy of exploration. As the largest developing country globally, China's experiences and current situation are pertinent for examination and emulation. This study employs in-depth interviews, focusing on Henan Province, a populous region grappling with significant aging issues, to investigate the usage of short videos among elderly women in small towns. It explores whether new media can provide psychological comfort and improve their living conditions to some extent. The research reveals that through watching, creating, and sharing short videos, elderly women in small Chinese towns establish virtual connections transcending geographical constraints. They form online and offline communities based on shared interests, work experiences, and physical spaces. This new media environment fosters novel social interactions, offering virtual companionship, spiritual solace, expanded social engagement, group connectivity, and communal revitalization. This approach of "short video socialization" and "media-assisted eldercare" enriches the spiritual lives of the elderly, alleviates loneliness to a certain extent, enhances their living conditions, and initiates a process of rediscovering their self-worth.

Yaohui Cai, Huinu Qi. Facilitating Social Interaction without Social Intent: Autonomy and Confusion among Middle-Aged and Elderly Women in Chinese Small Towns within the Realm of Short Videos. Academic Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences (2024) Vol. 7, Issue 7: 113-120. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJHSS.2024.070717.

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