"Even When Success Seems Impossible, I Keep Streaming": How Do Chinese Elderly Streamers Interact with Platform Algorithmic (In)visibility

Junxiang LIAO; Zheng WEI; Zeyu YANG; Xian XU; Pan HUI; Changyang HE; Muzhi ZHOU

doi:10.1145/3706598.3713763

"Even When Success Seems Impossible, I Keep Streaming": How Do Chinese Elderly Streamers Interact with Platform Algorithmic (In)visibility

Junxiang LIAO
, Zheng WEI
, Zeyu YANG
, Xian XU
, Pan HUI
, Changyang HE
, Muzhi ZHOU^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book Chapters | Papers in Conference Proceedings › Conference paper (refereed) › Research › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recent research within the HCI community has illuminated the challenges faced by marginalized groups on algorithm-driven livestreaming platforms. However, there is a notable gap in understanding how elderly livestreamers interact with the platform content moderation and algorithmic (in)visibility. This study investigates the perceptions of the algorithm-moderated (in)visibility and the coping strategies of 16 elderly streamers on Douyin. We find that, contrary to stereotypes of elderly users as digitally uninformed, these streamers actively engage with the platform to facilitate their understanding about platform algorithm. This engagement involves official guidance, peer learning, and personal experimentation. The streamers adopt various strategies to align with the perceived algorithmic preferences. Despite their rich knowledge about the platform's visibility moderation, many elderly streamers face significant challenges, such as physical and psychological strain and low viewer traffic. We conclude with design implications for livestreaming platforms to foster fairness and promote engagement among elderly streamers.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	CHI'25: Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery, Inc
Number of pages	15
ISBN (Electronic)	9798400713941
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3706598.3713763
Publication status	Published - 26 Apr 2025
Externally published	Yes
Event	2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - PACIFICO Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan Duration: 26 Apr 2025 → 1 May 2025

Publication series

Name	Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings

Conference

Conference	2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Abbreviated title	CHI 2025
Country/Territory	Japan
City	Yokohama
Period	26/04/25 → 1/05/25

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s). Publication rights licensed to ACM.

Funding

This research was funded by the Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province (Awardee: Muzhi Zhou; Award Number: 2023A1515110918) and by the Guangdong Office of Philosophy and Social Science (Awardee: Muzhi Zhou; Award Number: GD24CSH04).

Keywords

algorithm
elderly
livestreaming
social media

Access to Document

10.1145/3706598.3713763

Cite this

LIAO, J., WEI, Z., YANG, Z., XU, X., HUI, P., HE, C., & ZHOU, M. (2025). "Even When Success Seems Impossible, I Keep Streaming": How Do Chinese Elderly Streamers Interact with Platform Algorithmic (In)visibility. In CHI'25: Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Article 843 (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings). Association for Computing Machinery, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1145/3706598.3713763

LIAO, Junxiang ; WEI, Zheng ; YANG, Zeyu et al. / "Even When Success Seems Impossible, I Keep Streaming": How Do Chinese Elderly Streamers Interact with Platform Algorithmic (In)visibility. CHI'25: Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Association for Computing Machinery, Inc, 2025. (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings).

@inproceedings{1b4b46d88bda47019302af3cef1c2ed0,

title = "{"}Even When Success Seems Impossible, I Keep Streaming{"}: How Do Chinese Elderly Streamers Interact with Platform Algorithmic (In)visibility",

abstract = "Recent research within the HCI community has illuminated the challenges faced by marginalized groups on algorithm-driven livestreaming platforms. However, there is a notable gap in understanding how elderly livestreamers interact with the platform content moderation and algorithmic (in)visibility. This study investigates the perceptions of the algorithm-moderated (in)visibility and the coping strategies of 16 elderly streamers on Douyin. We find that, contrary to stereotypes of elderly users as digitally uninformed, these streamers actively engage with the platform to facilitate their understanding about platform algorithm. This engagement involves official guidance, peer learning, and personal experimentation. The streamers adopt various strategies to align with the perceived algorithmic preferences. Despite their rich knowledge about the platform's visibility moderation, many elderly streamers face significant challenges, such as physical and psychological strain and low viewer traffic. We conclude with design implications for livestreaming platforms to foster fairness and promote engagement among elderly streamers.",

keywords = "algorithm, elderly, livestreaming, social media",

author = "Junxiang LIAO and Zheng WEI and Zeyu YANG and Xian XU and Pan HUI and Changyang HE and Muzhi ZHOU",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s). Publication rights licensed to ACM.; 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2025 ; Conference date: 26-04-2025 Through 01-05-2025",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

day = "26",

doi = "10.1145/3706598.3713763",

language = "English",

series = "Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings",

publisher = "Association for Computing Machinery, Inc",

booktitle = "CHI'25: Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems",

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}

LIAO, J, WEI, Z, YANG, Z, XU, X, HUI, P, HE, C & ZHOU, M 2025, "Even When Success Seems Impossible, I Keep Streaming": How Do Chinese Elderly Streamers Interact with Platform Algorithmic (In)visibility. in CHI'25: Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems., 843, Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings, Association for Computing Machinery, Inc, 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Yokohama, Japan, 26/04/25. https://doi.org/10.1145/3706598.3713763

"Even When Success Seems Impossible, I Keep Streaming": How Do Chinese Elderly Streamers Interact with Platform Algorithmic (In)visibility. / LIAO, Junxiang; WEI, Zheng; YANG, Zeyu et al.
CHI'25: Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Association for Computing Machinery, Inc, 2025. 843 (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings).

Research output: Book Chapters | Papers in Conference Proceedings › Conference paper (refereed) › Research › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - "Even When Success Seems Impossible, I Keep Streaming": How Do Chinese Elderly Streamers Interact with Platform Algorithmic (In)visibility

AU - LIAO, Junxiang

AU - WEI, Zheng

AU - YANG, Zeyu

AU - XU, Xian

AU - HUI, Pan

AU - HE, Changyang

AU - ZHOU, Muzhi

PY - 2025/4/26

Y1 - 2025/4/26

N2 - Recent research within the HCI community has illuminated the challenges faced by marginalized groups on algorithm-driven livestreaming platforms. However, there is a notable gap in understanding how elderly livestreamers interact with the platform content moderation and algorithmic (in)visibility. This study investigates the perceptions of the algorithm-moderated (in)visibility and the coping strategies of 16 elderly streamers on Douyin. We find that, contrary to stereotypes of elderly users as digitally uninformed, these streamers actively engage with the platform to facilitate their understanding about platform algorithm. This engagement involves official guidance, peer learning, and personal experimentation. The streamers adopt various strategies to align with the perceived algorithmic preferences. Despite their rich knowledge about the platform's visibility moderation, many elderly streamers face significant challenges, such as physical and psychological strain and low viewer traffic. We conclude with design implications for livestreaming platforms to foster fairness and promote engagement among elderly streamers.

AB - Recent research within the HCI community has illuminated the challenges faced by marginalized groups on algorithm-driven livestreaming platforms. However, there is a notable gap in understanding how elderly livestreamers interact with the platform content moderation and algorithmic (in)visibility. This study investigates the perceptions of the algorithm-moderated (in)visibility and the coping strategies of 16 elderly streamers on Douyin. We find that, contrary to stereotypes of elderly users as digitally uninformed, these streamers actively engage with the platform to facilitate their understanding about platform algorithm. This engagement involves official guidance, peer learning, and personal experimentation. The streamers adopt various strategies to align with the perceived algorithmic preferences. Despite their rich knowledge about the platform's visibility moderation, many elderly streamers face significant challenges, such as physical and psychological strain and low viewer traffic. We conclude with design implications for livestreaming platforms to foster fairness and promote engagement among elderly streamers.

KW - algorithm

KW - elderly

KW - livestreaming

KW - social media

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M3 - Conference paper (refereed)

AN - SCOPUS:105005755649

T3 - Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings

BT - CHI'25: Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

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ER -

LIAO J, WEI Z, YANG Z, XU X, HUI P, HE C et al. "Even When Success Seems Impossible, I Keep Streaming": How Do Chinese Elderly Streamers Interact with Platform Algorithmic (In)visibility. In CHI'25: Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Association for Computing Machinery, Inc. 2025. 843. (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings). doi: 10.1145/3706598.3713763

"Even When Success Seems Impossible, I Keep Streaming": How Do Chinese Elderly Streamers Interact with Platform Algorithmic (In)visibility

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

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