Alienation to inclusion: The digital divide among China's older adults post-one-child policy

As China rapidly digitalises, older adults are increasingly at risk of exclusion. The demographic legacy of the one-child policy may have reshaped intergenerational support, raising concerns about social inequality and digital alienation among the ageing population. This study explores how intergenerational social capital and forms of alienation in the context of the one-child policy contribute to the digital divide among older adults in China. Based on 26 semi-structured interviews with participants aged 60 to 80 in Shenzhen, a codebook-based thematic analysis identified themes emerging from the data and interpreted through social capital and alienation frameworks. The findings suggest that the limited intergenerational support from adult children was associated with shaping older adults’ digital exclusion, while other forms of alienation further intensify the digital divide. At the same time, some older adults actively adapt and remain digitally connected despite limited support. The study suggests recommendations for digital inclusion, including community-based digital education, age-friendly technology design, and stronger policy efforts, including improved cybersecurity protections, to support digital inclusion among ageing populations.