Objective:

To develop and validate a scale for assessing social compensation design features that cater to urban older users within the context of smart-home social media.

Key Findings:

• Older adults living alone face significant challenges in social participation, leading to loneliness and adverse health outcomes.
• Smart-home social media can enhance social interaction and subjective wellbeing among older adults, suggesting design implications.
• There is a lack of a validated scale to measure the effectiveness of smart-home social media in providing social compensation.

Interpretation:

The study underscores the necessity of designing smart-home social media that addresses the psychosocial vulnerabilities of older adults, which could enhance their social engagement and overall wellbeing.

Limitations:

• The scale's applicability may be limited to urban older adults and may not generalize to rural populations.
• Potential biases in sample selection or methodology may affect the findings.
• Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of smart-home social media on social compensation.

Conclusion:

Developing a scale for social compensation design is essential for enhancing the effectiveness of smart-home social media in supporting the social needs of older adults, with practical implications for design.