Vintage cameras: young people's nostalgic practices on social media and the pursuit of identity in contemporary China

ABSTRACTThis article investigates the phenomenon of young people in China rejecting new technologies, embracing nostalgia, and engaging with nostalgic practices on social media platforms. Conducting qualitative interviews with participants recruited from the popular Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, the study draws on frameworks of social media fatigue and cultural capital to reveal the multi-layered motivations behind young people's use of vintage digital cameras as a means of resistance against the dominant consumerist culture and for self-expression. The findings emphasize the role of cultural capital in shaping nostalgic practices, as young people strategically accumulate and display it to distinguish themselves. This study highlights the complex interplay between cultural capital, identity, and social dynamics in contemporary Chinese society, shedding light on the diverse strategies employed by young people to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the modern world.KEYWORDS: Social medianostalgiayoung peopleXiaohongshuChina AcknowledgementWe would like to express my sincere gratitude to the reviewers of this paper. Their thoughtful and insightful feedback significantly contributed to the enhancement of the quality and rigor of this work. Their constructive comments and suggestions have been invaluable in shaping the final version of this manuscript. We are deeply appreciative of their dedication and expertise in the field, which have undoubtedly enriched the content of this research. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the editor for their guidance and support throughout the publication process, which has been instrumental in bringing this paper to its current form.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).