Letters | Can WhatsApp and WeChat really replace family visits and showing the elderly we care?
- Messaging apps can be useful for family members who can’t otherwise keep in touch, but there’s no excuse for not visiting family who live nearby
The article refers to a study by the University of Hong Kong regarding the trend of people using their mobile phone to chat or share updates with their family and how it can enhance their happiness. This trend of group messaging within the family is increasing, and people use their mobile phones more frequently to chat with close relatives via online WhatsApp or WeChat groups, a study by HKU’s School of Public Health has revealed.
However, the researchers also emphasised the need to teach the elderly to use such apps, as more than more than 45 per cent of the 1,638 survey respondents over 65 years old said they were not in a family messaging group.
Smartphone apps can help people and families keep in touch, for sure, but it would be ridiculous for people to prefer phone chats over chatting face-to-face. There is a lack of human interaction when you go online to express your feelings.
