A narrower access gap, yet persistent divides: the digital inequality among China’s urban-rural older adults

As societies digitize, aging populations face emerging forms of digital inequality, manifesting distinct spatial disparities in rapidly developing contexts. This study systematically examines the urban-rural digital divide among China’s older adults through a three-tier framework (access-usage-outcome), utilizing the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) data and employing comparative analysis, Probit, Oporbit and OLS regression. It reveals a three-dimensional digital divide with distinct characteristics at each level. First, a comparison of the two cross-sectional surveys reveals that the urban-rural gap in access was substantially smaller in 2021 than in 2017. Second, the urban-rural gap in general internet usage was narrower in 2021 than in 2017. However, structural inequalities persist between urban and rural areas in terms of usage frequency. Most significantly, the pattern of the association between internet use and health differs substantially between urban and rural older adults in both survey years. Specifically, the association between frequency of internet use and health among rural older adults differs in timing and nature from that among their urban counterparts. These findings confirm the three-stage diffusion mechanism of digital technology: a smaller access gap does not automatically translate into equal usage or equitable outcomes. They underscore the importance of evidence-based, multi-level digital inclusion policies that integrate long-term planning with targeted interventions to promote equitable participation.