Between Stability and Mobility: Mediated Practices of Constructing Home by Young White-Collar Migrants in Shanghai

Against the backdrop of population mobility in contemporary China, the migration experiences of young white-collar workers in Shanghai involve not only livelihoods but also the construction of home. Based on in-depth interviews with 22 young white-collar migrants relocating to Shanghai, this article explores how they construct home amidst the intertwined dynamics of stability and mobility. Unlike previous research that interprets home as a fixed shelter or a mobile space, this article views home as a strategic practice continually negotiated between stability and mobility. It further argues that media play a key role in this process. Unlike existing studies that consider media as a communication tool, this article examines how media, through their content and technical characteristics, intervene in and shape the mechanisms of home construction between stability and mobility. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexity and negotiation of home in China’s increasingly mobile society.