PhD defence Y. (Yongjian) Li

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

This dissertation investigates how digital technologies reshape retirement migration in China through the case of Houniao (候鸟, “migratory birds”)—older adults who move seasonally between northern origins and southern destinations. Rather than passive technology users, Houniao actively engage with digital platforms to sustain family ties, record their journeys, share knowledge, and create hybrid spaces of belonging.

The study asks: How do Houniao migrants use digital technologies to reshape their experiences of retirement migration? It combines a framing analysis of media coverage (2000–2023), ethnographic fieldwork in Sanya (2020–2021), and analysis of digital content creation. Findings reveal shifting media portrayals from dependent “grey burdens” to active lifestyle seekers, while ethnographic insights show how migrants use WeChat groups, digital routines, and peer learning to navigate seasonal life. Content analysis of vlogs and tutorials identifies “warm experts 3.0”—older migrants who integrate technical guidance with emotional support and storytelling.

To capture these dynamics, the dissertation develops the framework of the “mediated nearby”, highlighting temporal, spatial, narrative, networked, and hybrid dimensions of digital presence. It demonstrates how ageing migrants transform retirement mobility through technology, contributing to digital migration studies, ageing studies, and human geography.