{"id":3707,"date":"2019-10-15T16:57:25","date_gmt":"2019-10-15T16:57:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/eastasiaandoceaniablog\/?p=3707"},"modified":"2019-10-15T16:57:41","modified_gmt":"2019-10-15T16:57:41","slug":"older-hongkongers-taking-to-online-apps-and-social-media-for-latest-updates-on-protests-and-some-may-join-rallies-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/eastasiaandoceaniablog\/2019\/10\/15\/older-hongkongers-taking-to-online-apps-and-social-media-for-latest-updates-on-protests-and-some-may-join-rallies-too\/","title":{"rendered":"Older Hongkongers taking to online apps and social media for latest updates on protests, and some may join rallies too"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Older Hongkongers taking to online apps and social media for latest updates on protests, and some may join rallies tooSIGN IN\/UP<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/china\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/asia\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/world\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/business\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/economy\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/tech\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/sport\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/week-asia\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkstonenews.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abacusnews.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/author\/scmp-editorial\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/comment\/insight-opinion\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/photos\/harrys-view\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/comment\/letters\" class=\"\"><\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/week-asia\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkstonenews.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abacusnews.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/week-asia\/politics\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/week-asia\/economics\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/week-asia\/opinion\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/week-asia\/people\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/week-asia\/health-environment\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/week-asia\/lifestyle-culture\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/week-asia\/explained\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/week-asia\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkstonenews.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abacusnews.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/lifestyle\/fashion-beauty\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/lifestyle\/travel-leisure\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/lifestyle\/family-relationships\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/lifestyle\/food-drink\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/lifestyle\/health-wellness\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/lifestyle\/entertainment\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/lifestyle\/arts-culture\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/lifestyle\/gadgets\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/magazines\/post-magazine\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/magazines\/style\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/cooking\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/better-life\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/magazines\/post-magazine\/long-reads\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/magazines\/post-magazine\/short-reads\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/magazines\/post-magazine\/design-interiors\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/magazines\/post-magazine\/food-drink\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/magazines\/post-magazine\/travel\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/magazines\/post-magazine\/books\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/magazines\/post-magazine\/arts-music\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/magazines\/post-magazine\/fashion\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/scmp-films\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/video\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/infographics\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/photos\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/podcasts\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/explained\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/newsletters\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/scmp-spotlight\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/topics\/special-reports\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/scmp-films\" class=\"\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\/politics\">Politics<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Survey shows \u2018surprising\u2019 proportion of over-55s turning to Telegram and LIHKG for updates on anti-government movement<\/li><li>Some older people want to know what their kids, grandkids are thinking; others seek latest news before joining protests themselves<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Published: 10:30am, 12 Oct, 2019<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/print\/news\/hong-kong\/politics\/article\/3032496\/older-hongkongers-taking-online-apps-and-social-media\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.i-scmp.com\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/1200x800\/public\/d8\/images\/methode\/2019\/10\/12\/0cb85760-e9b3-11e9-9e8e-4022fb9638c4_image_hires_145623.jpg?itok=NpITrM_0&amp;v=1570863392\" alt=\"Telegram is an encrypted messaging app popular with protesters. Photo: SCMP\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Telegram is an encrypted messaging app popular with protesters. Photo: SCMP<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Retired schoolteacher Bill Lau, 66, first learned about the messaging app Telegram and online forum LIHKG \u2013 platforms popular with protesters \u2013 from his friends and younger daughter respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Curious, he downloaded Telegram and started checking out LIHKG links from his daughter, and now spends at least half an hour on them each day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both apps have played a critical role in the increasingly violent anti-government unrest, now in its fifth month. Protesters, who insist the movement is leaderless, have been using Telegram and LIHKG as virtual command centres to obtain updates, exchange details on how and where to gather, as well as share their views on developments.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\/article\/3014255\/facebook-and-twitter-telegram-whatsapp-and-signal-how-protest\">From social media to encrypted messaging: tech\u2019s changing role in protests<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The online platforms are popular with younger people who make up most protesters, but older Hongkongers like Lau have begun using them too.ADVERTISING<a href=\"https:\/\/hp.teads.com\/?utm_source=inread&amp;utm_medium=credits&amp;utm_campaign=invented%20by%20teads\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">inRead&nbsp;invented by Teads<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m also very concerned about the extradition bill crisis,\u201d he says, referring to the now-withdrawn bill that would have allowed the transfer of fugitives to mainland China, among other jurisdictions, with which Hong Kong lacks an existing arrangement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a survey by Chinese University\u2019s Centre for Communication and Public Opinion Survey early last month, 49 per cent of those aged 15 to 34 thought Telegram was important for getting information about the protests, while 61 per cent in that age group felt the Reddit-like LIHKG platform was important for such information.Don&#8217;t Miss Critical Events In Hong KongGet our newsletter sent Monday to FridaySIGN UPBy registering, you agree to our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/terms-conditions\">T&amp;C<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About a fifth of those aged 55 and above said in the survey that they found Telegram important, and a similar proportion said the same about LIHKG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hong Kong has been rocked by four months of protests. Photo: Felix Wong<strong>Share:<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Shared%20from%20South%20China%20Morning%20Post&amp;body=Older%20Hongkongers%20taking%20to%20online%20apps%20and%20social%20media%20for%20latest%20updates%20on%20protests,%20and%20some%20may%20join%20rallies%20too%0D%0Ahttps:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\/politics\/article\/3032496\/older-hongkongers-taking-online-apps-and-social-media\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The centre\u2019s director, associate professor Michael Chan Che-ming, admits he was \u201cquite surprised\u201d to find so many older people using the apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe figures show the older generation has picked up the applications quickly,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He believes the protests helped draw older people to the apps, and says this could indicate that older people want to know what younger Hongkongers, including their children and grandchildren, are thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Older people may also want to know what is coming up next in the protest movement, with some of them going out into the streets themselves, Chan says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He adds that he chose to classify those aged 55 and above as a group, because that is when many think of retirement, with their social circles narrowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2018You have to move with the times\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sixty-year-old retiree Vincent (not his real name) says he uses Telegram and LIHKG because he cares and wants to know what young people are thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He says he has changed his mind about Hong Kong\u2019s youth and now appreciates their innovative and creative spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt is like an awakening,\u201d he says. \u201cI used to think that they only know how to play games, but now I realise that they are politically very mature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vincent, who lives in Taikoo Shing, a middle-class private residential development in the east of Hong Kong Island, has not taken part in any demonstration, but has donated to support the protesters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He says he is particularly impressed by the way LIHKG members composed&nbsp;<em>Glory to Hong Kong<\/em>, now regarded as the protest movement\u2019s de facto anthem, and how they designed \u201cworld-class\u201d advertisements published in newspapers around the world ahead of the G20 summit in June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bill Lau describes himself as not very tech-savvy and says he previously tended to use messaging apps WhatsApp and Line, and went on Facebook and the mainland messaging platform WeChat occasionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some older Hongkongers turn to social media to better understand what the younger generation, especially their children and grandchildren are thinking. Photo: Dickson Lee<strong>Share:<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Shared%20from%20South%20China%20Morning%20Post&amp;body=Older%20Hongkongers%20taking%20to%20online%20apps%20and%20social%20media%20for%20latest%20updates%20on%20protests,%20and%20some%20may%20join%20rallies%20too%0D%0Ahttps:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\/politics\/article\/3032496\/older-hongkongers-taking-online-apps-and-social-media\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If not for the current unrest, he says, he probably would not have started using Telegram and LIHKG. Not many of his friends his age use them either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lau says he was keen to find out more after some pro-establishment camp members were cited on a web programme as calling Telegram, Apple\u2019s AirDrop and LIHKG as hi-tech and scary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou cannot be so backward and need to move with the times,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On a radio programme two months ago, pro-establishment lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said that while protesters claimed the movement was leaderless, she believed there was a mastermind who used the apps to launch the large-scale protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bill Lau supports the movement, has taken part in several protests and has been exposed to tear gas himself, but says he is against the use of violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He relies on Telegram and LIHKG for the latest news. For example, he follows a Telegram channel with information on human chain events, in which he has taken part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn the past, when I read the newspaper, I often read news on China first,\u201d he says. \u201cNow, I do not want to know anything about China.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2018There\u2019s too much information\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The importance of messaging apps and social media was also raised during a dialogue Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor held last month with 150 members of the public in an effort to mend ties with the community and find ways out of the ongoing crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Participants criticised the administration for not listening and one of the 30 people who spoke told Lam that if she wanted to know what young Hongkongers were thinking, she should spend 15 minutes a day browsing LIHKG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u2018Protect the Children\u2019 group outside Sha Tin Town Hall. Photo: Jonathan Wong<strong>Share:<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Shared%20from%20South%20China%20Morning%20Post&amp;body=Older%20Hongkongers%20taking%20to%20online%20apps%20and%20social%20media%20for%20latest%20updates%20on%20protests,%20and%20some%20may%20join%20rallies%20too%0D%0Ahttps:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\/politics\/article\/3032496\/older-hongkongers-taking-online-apps-and-social-media\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aside from people like Lau and Vincent, other senior citizens have been lending their support to the anti-government movement, including thousands who joined a march in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A group of volunteers calling themselves \u201cProtect the Children\u201d got together in response to what they considered the increasing use of force by the police against protesters. Its members have become a regular presence at recent protests, and include a 73-year-old popularly known as \u201cUncle Chan\u201d, who went on a hunger strike against the governmentfor more than 10 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.i-scmp.com\/sites\/default\/files\/d8\/images\/methode\/2019\/10\/12\/6e830ade-eb4e-11e9-9e8e-4022fb9638c4_1320x770_145623.JPEG\" alt=\"\u2018Uncle Chan\u2019, 73, is part of a group often seen on the front lines negotiating with police. Photo: Handout\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018Uncle Chan\u2019, 73, is part of a group often seen on the front lines negotiating with police. Photo: Handout<strong>Share:<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Shared%20from%20South%20China%20Morning%20Post&amp;body=Older%20Hongkongers%20taking%20to%20online%20apps%20and%20social%20media%20for%20latest%20updates%20on%20protests,%20and%20some%20may%20join%20rallies%20too%0D%0Ahttps:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\/politics\/article\/3032496\/older-hongkongers-taking-online-apps-and-social-media\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As more senior citizens began appearing at the protests, some LIHKG members have called for a forum on the platform geared to the older generation. They suggested calling it Lotus Light, and said it should use a bigger font that is easier to read, and feature lotus flowers which older people like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More channels on Telegram have also been started, targeting the elderly, including one with the latest information on silver generation-themed protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some may welcome these moves, but for retirees like Lau, they might prove to be a data overload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere is too much information,\u201d he says. \u201cI do not try to read everything as I have other activities too, such as playing the guitar and running.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Older Hongkongers taking to online apps and social media for latest updates on protests, and some may join rallies tooSIGN IN\/UPPolitics Survey shows \u2018surprising\u2019 proportion of over-55s turning to Telegram and LIHKG for updates on anti-government movement Some older people want to know what their kids, grandkids are thinking; others seek latest news before joining protests themselves Published: 10:30am, 12&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/eastasiaandoceaniablog\/2019\/10\/15\/older-hongkongers-taking-to-online-apps-and-social-media-for-latest-updates-on-protests-and-some-may-join-rallies-too\/\">Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":139,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/eastasiaandoceaniablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/eastasiaandoceaniablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/eastasiaandoceaniablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/eastasiaandoceaniablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/139"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/eastasiaandoceaniablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3707"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/eastasiaandoceaniablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3708,"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/eastasiaandoceaniablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3707\/revisions\/3708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/eastasiaandoceaniablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/eastasiaandoceaniablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/eastasiaandoceaniablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}