Elders embracing ageing through social media are capturing the hearts of fans of all ages globally.
Granfluencers are elder social media influencers. You can recognise them by their innovative, energetic and positive approach towards embracing life no matter what age they are in. They do not let ageing define who they are. Instead, they are showing the world that age is just a number, and they are creating waves that define the future of ageing.
Asia’s Granfluencers are role models for all generations and have reached celebrity status. The social media world has created a platform for these Granfluencers to challenge conventional norms of what being an elder is all about. They take to their mobile phones to sing, dance, model, and are proud to share their daily lives for millions of fans to see.
A Granfluencer represents the ageing icon of the future. The younger generations ‘follow’ these Granfluencers because they find them trendy, fun, confident and different.
The best asset of the Granfluencers is their wealth of experience and determination to live life to the fullest. They appreciate life and the people around them. They embrace positivity, approach new ideas and are happy to try new experiences, especially those introduced to them by their younger friends, children, or even their grandchildren.
Helping grandma, grandpa, mum and dad to be profiled on social media with their own handles and pages has been one of the most popular and successful intergenerational bonding experiences, as seen from our top 10 list. Popular apps used include, TikTok, Douyin, Kuaishou, Instagram and Facebook.
Granfluencers mark a sign of changing times indeed; everyone can be an internet sensation or celebrity. Social media has reduced barriers to entry, with Granfluencers leading the way to show us that ageing can be trendy and fashionable, too. The young are now excited to take selfies and videos with their cool “glam-ma’s” and “glam-pa’s”!
Asia’s Top 10 Granfluencers Hall of Fame 2021
1. @Monadashu, China
Under the handle of his son, @monadashu in Douyin, is 74 year old Grandpa Beihai, who is fondly known as Beihaiyeye. He has 13.7 million followers, and is best known as China’s most handsome elder with a debonaire style.
2. @康康和爷爷, China
83 year old grandpa Kang has 2.12million followers in Douyin and is filmed by his grandson, Kang Kang. This intergenerational partnership showcases grandpa as a fashion icon with his grandson creating different looks for him from fun outfits to trendy and humorous ones.
3. @korea_grandma, South Korea
Grandma Park Makrae is a YouTube session and known as “Korea Grandma”. She has 1.31 million subscribers on YouTube. Her granddaughter started documenting her grandma because she saw it as a possible way to combat dementia in future. Their viral video exploits include beauty regimes, travel and cooking.
4. @bonpon511, Japan
This trendy fashion icon and super loving couple with 826K followers in Instagram have been married for 40 years, and have been dressed in matching outfits everyday of their marriage. In their sixties, this couple’s instagram handle is a combination of both their names, Bon and Pon. The choice of 511 is the date of their wedding anniversary.
5. @wantshowasyoung, Taiwan
This octogenerian couple, Chang Wan-Ji, 83 years old and his wife, Hsu Sho-er, 84 years old, operate a laundry shop, and have gained internet fame by modelling discarded clothes that have been left behind in their shop. Their grandson Reef Chang set up the account for them. They have 648K followers on instagram and hope to raise awareness for environmental fashion.
6. @fashion_grannies, China
Part of the group, Glamma Beijing, they are four amateur grandma models, aged over 60 years old who became internet sensations after sashaying down the streets of Beijing in figure-hugging qipaos in China last year. They have over 600K followers on TikTok.
7. @gamergrandma, China
Grandma Hamako Mori from Japan has been playing video and esports for 4 decades and in May 2020 was declared as the oldest ever gaming YouTuber in the world at the age of 90 years old. She has 487K followers on YouTube.
8. @張媽媽廚房, Mama Cheung, Hong Kong SAR
Hong Kong home cooking sensation Mama Cheung has 488K followers on YouTube. She creates a whole universe of Cantonese food and is a typical aunty that will cook up a storm for you.
9. @kimiko_nishimoto, Japan
93 year old photographer, Kimiko Nishimoto from Japan has 235K followers on Instagram, and is best known for her experimental wacky self portraits. She discovered her love for photography at the age of 72 years old and edits her own images. Her self-portraits present everyday life in an ironic way.
10. @motherwithsign, India
Yet another mother and son collaboration, Poonam Sapra and her son Pranav created the Instagram page together with his mother holding up signs with everyday – wholesome, easy to relate, humorous and motherly advice for living a healthy, good and happy life. They have 156K followers on Instagram.
Global Granfluencer Map
