From being seen to being coded: Technological practices and intergenerational interactions of older short video creators

Abstract This study investigates the intersectional dynamics of age, gender, and algorithmic power within the short video production practices of older adults on China's Douyin platform and its affiliated editing tool, CapCut. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research conceptualizes these platforms as a techno-field to explore how older users navigate digital content creation. Findings reveal a pronounced gendered division in technical engagement: older male users tend to adopt advanced editing features to reinforce domestic authority, while older female users predominantly rely on emotionally themed templates to maintain intergenerational bonds. The Douyin algorithm subtly deprioritizes content tagged as "older adults," with female creators disproportionately affected by reduced visibility. Furthermore, algorithms reconfigure intergenerational negotiations, adult children assert authority through technological metrics, while older parents adopt conciliatory strategies to preserve familial intimacy. By illuminating the complex entanglement of digital aging, technogender, and algorithmic governance, this study contributes to the critical understanding of digital media inequalities and offers policy recommendations for enhancing platform transparency and designing age-inclusive tools in the context of global ageing.