Navigating Media Use: Chinese Parents and Their Overseas Adolescent Children on WeChat

In many Chinese families, adolescent children are moving abroad to pursue higher education. Due to cultural issues and China's One-Child Policy, parents have high expectations for their children and are willing to invest time and money to help them build a successful future. In this study, we interviewed 9 Chinese students in undergraduate or graduate programs in the US and 15 Chinese parents in China whose children are studying abroad about their family communications. Parents and students used a variety of media, and families negotiated how each medium was used. Most families eventually migrated to communicate through WeChat, the ubiquitous Chinese based cross-platform instant messaging service. The negotiation of what medium to use, how to use and when to use specific media was tied the students' and parents' goals to construct a positive presentation of self. Based upon these findings we offer design considerations for cross-cultural, family and intimate long-distance communication media.

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