Smartphone Technology, Social Network Maintenance and Social Participation among Mandarin-speaking older immigrants in Canada

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The rapid global expansion of digital technologies has reshaped everyday life across generations, yet the role of smartphones in older immigrants' social well-being remains insufficiently understood. Drawing on the sociotechnical perspective that ageing and technology are co-constituted, our study examines how Mandarin-speaking older immigrants in Canada use smartphones to overcome social isolation and sustain social participation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were obtained from 102 qualitative interviews conducted across seven Canadian cities as part of the Inclusive Communities for Older Immigrants (ICOI) project. The data were analysed using a hybrid deductive-inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three overarching themes were identified: experiences of social isolation, shaped by linguistic, cultural, and seasonal barriers; smartphones as tools for social connection; and smartphones as facilitators of social participation, enabling both online engagement and the coordination of in-person activities. Study findings demonstrate that smartphones operate not merely as communication devices but as sociotechnical infrastructures that sustain belonging, enable local and transnational connectivity, and support mutual aid among older immigrants. At the same time, they complement rather than replace in-person interaction, with many participants preferring face-to-face social engagement when feasible. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: This study contributes to critical gerontology and migration scholarship by illustrating how digital technologies address social isolation among older immigrants and highlights the need for culturally and linguistically tailored digital inclusion initiatives that promote equitable ageing in diverse societies.