关键词: 数字鸿沟, 数字包容, 老年人, 互联网使用, 社会适应

Abstract: There are distinct internal differences in the use of internet among older adults, and different ways of using internet can also have different impacts on them. From a typological perspective, using data from the 2020 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), this study analyzes the heterogeneous impact of different types of internet usage among Chinese older adults on their social adaptation level. It is found that using internet can significantly promote the social adaptation level of older adults, but the degree of promotion depends on the type of internet usage. The comprehensive type benefits the most from Internet use, while the social-news type benefits the least. However, the difference among the social-news type, social type, and social-entertainment type is not significant. Among the older adults who access internet, there is a “J-shaped” connection between the hierarchy of internet usage and the social adaptation level of older adults. In addition, older adults with higher level of education benefit more from using Internet. To strengthen the construction of a digitally inclusive ageing society, this study suggests that precise measures should be taken to cope with the differences in internet usage among older adults, strengthen cyberspace governance, and improve the digital and information literacy of older adults.

Keywords: Digital Divide, Digitally Inclusive, Older Adults, Internet Use, Social Adaptation