The double-edged sword of internet use in China’s aging population: thresholds, mediation and digital health policy

Internet use offers conditional health benefits for older adults, contingent on usage thresholds and mediated by physical activity. Policymakers must balance targeted digital inclusion with safeguards against overuse, particularly for vulnerable groups. These findings highlight the need for time-bound digital health interventions and literacy programs to address the paradox of technological compensation and vulnerability, informing digital health policy in aging societies.