Population Research ›› 2021, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (2): 61-74.

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Internet Use among Older Adults in Urban China and Its Influencing Factors

Ding Zhihong1,Zhang Xianling2   

  1. Ding Zhihong1, School of Sociology and Psychology, Central University of Finance and Economics;Zhang Xianling2(Corresponding Author), School of Sociology and Psychology, Central University of Finance and Economics.
  • Online:2021-03-29 Published:2021-04-08
  • About author:Ding Zhihong is Professor, School of Sociology and Psychology, Central University of Finance and Economics;Zhang Xianling(Corresponding Author) is Associate Professor, School of Sociology and Psychology, Central University of Finance and Economics.

中国城镇老年人上网状况及其影响因素

丁志宏1,张现苓2   

  1. 丁志宏1,中央财经大学社会与心理学院;张现苓2(通讯作者),中央财经大学社会与心理学院。
  • 作者简介:丁志宏,中央财经大学社会与心理学院教授;张现苓(通讯作者),中央财经大学社会与心理学院副教授。
  • 基金资助:
    本文为国家社会科学基金一般项目“失智老人家庭照顾策略形成及其对主要照顾者负担的影响研究”(19BRK026)的阶段性成果。

Abstract: The number of older Internet users in urban China has increased rapidly in recent years, while the prevalence of Internet usage among older adults is still much smaller than developed countries. Using data from 2018 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey, we find great gender, age, and education differences among the older adults in internet access, internet use, and ways of learning Internet. Older urban netizens use Internet frequently. Most of them use the Internet to socialize or search for information, while a small proportion of them try online shopping. Most of older urban netizens use mobile phones to get online. They learn about Internet use by themselves or asking for help from their family members rather than referring to resources outside household. The Internet use of older adults in urban China is largely affected by their individual attributes, family characteristics, socio-economic status, equipment and technical conditions, and their own interest in using smart devices. Based on these findings, we suggest that, to encourage the Internet use among older adults, producers should enhance the quality and types of services designed for older adults, and the community should play a more important role in promoting the Internet use among older adults.

Keywords: Urban Older Adults, Internet Access, Internet Use, Learning Using Internet, Internet-connected Devices

摘要: 近年来,中国城镇老年网民数量增长较快,但与发达国家相比还存在很大差距。利用2018年中国老年社会追踪调查数据,对中国城镇老年人上网状况及其影响因素展开分析。研究发现:城镇老年人在网络接入、网络使用、学习上网途径、上网设备等方面存在性别、年龄、受教育程度上的显著差异;城镇老年网民对网络依赖程度高,但使用单一,主要集中在网络社交和信息搜索上,利用网络进行商业消费的比例低;城镇老年网民主要用手机上网,学习网络主要依靠自己或家人,很少依赖家庭以外的资源;个人及家庭特征、社会经济地位、设备技术条件和智能产品兴趣对城镇老年人上网有显著影响。为此,建议互联网服务提供者提升对老年人服务的质量和种类,突出社区在老年人互联网使用中的作用发挥。

关键词: 城镇老年人, 网络接入, 网络使用, 学习上网途径, 上网设备