Last November, a video of an elderly woman being told that she couldn't pay her medical insurance in cash went viral in China, triggering a debate about mobile payments and the marginalization of older people fueled by the digital divide.
The incident and the online backlash thrust into the spotlight an issue of growing concern to the government -- the increasing number of companies, small traders, public entities and financial institutions rejecting cash as a means of payment and forcing customers to use online payments or electronic payment apps such as Alipay and WeChat Pay.
