The digital divide among the elderly in rural China: generation mechanism and governance approaches

The digital divide among the elderly in rural China: generation mechanism and governance approaches | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article The digital divide among the elderly in rural China: generation mechanism and governance approaches Nana Zheng, Shuqi Ye, Shengcong Wang This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8841761/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted 13 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract In contemporary China, where digital technology is rapidly advancing, the elderly in rural areas are confronted with a significant digital divide. Based on the theory of social exclusion, this study adopts a combined research method of questionnaire survey and in-depth interview, and conducts a theory-rooted qualitative study on the interview texts of 125 elderly residents in Ding Village from June 2023 to September 2023, aiming to explore the generative logic and governance approaches of the digital divide among the rural elderly group. The investigation revealed that during the process of integrating into the digital society, due to the digital divide, the rural elderly in China have digital integration dilemmas mainly at three levels: the access gap, the use gap, and the literacy gap. It was mainly due to the fact that the elderly group suffered from multiple forms of structural exclusion, including economic exclusion, institutional exclusion, technological exclusion, and social exclusion. On the premise of fully considering the social environment of the elderly in rural areas, a multi-dimensional integration perspective of society, community, enterprises, and individuals should be adopted to eliminate social exclusion. Based on the social exclusion theory, this research constructs a micro-level analytical framework to explore the generative mechanisms of the digital divide among social groups, while providing empirical evidence for policymakers to improve rural elderly care in the digital society. Social science/Development studies Social science/Social policy Social science/Sociology social exclusion theory rural elderly digital divide information symmetry public security Figures Figure 1 1. Introduction In the 21st century, the dual trends of digital technology and an aging population are accelerating the transformation of social structures globally (Li et al., 2025 ). In vulnerable rural areas, this transformation may exacerbate the digital divide among the elderly (Levy et al., 2015 ).The "52nd Statistical Report on Internet Development in China" indicates that while China's internet user scale has reached 1.079 billion, with a penetration rate of 76.4%, a significant number of elderly in rural areas remain non-users (China Internet Network Information Center, 2023 ). This implies that they are unable to enjoy the benefits of digital technology and are increasingly marginalized as digital outsiders in modern society. Concurrently, the digital divide indirectly impedes the progress of digital governance in rural communities. Neglecting the digital divide among this group could intensify the inequalities brought about by technological development, widening the gap between different groups and creating a "Matthew Effect" of digital poverty (Hannan and Eynon, 2025 ). It is widely recognized that assisting the elderly in overcoming the digital divide and breaking down barriers between the elderly and digital society is an urgent need in actively addressing global population aging (Yang & Liu, 2022 ). However, with this acknowledged, there have been precious few advances in our understanding of this issue. This study aims to contribute positively by addressing this gap in the existing studies. More specifically, it seeks to explore three key questions: First, what has caused the emergence of the digital divide among the elderly population in rural China; Second, in what ways are rural Chinese seniors encountering difficulties with digital integration; Finally, how can the digital divide for the elderly group in rural China be governanced. To address these questions, a social-exclusion analytical framework was constructed from empirical data collected in Ding Village, Nanjing City, and was situated within the existing literature. The expected results of this study may provide an in-depth analysis of the multidimensional challenges faced by the rural elderly in the digital process from a micro perspective, while constructing actionable approaches to governance the digital divide based on empirical analysis. 2. Literature Review In light of the unique focus of this study, a brief literature review will be conducted on the digital divide among the rural elderly in rural China, including both Chinese local researches and international researches. 2.1 Digital Divide The revolution in information technology is considered another significant event affecting human civilization, symbolizing freedom and equality. However, as some critics have it, the history of new technological development is also one of deepening social stratification and inequality (Gunkel, 2003 ; Eubanks, 2018 ; Galperin et al., 2021 ). Since the 21st century, the rise of the internet has inevitably led to digital inequality among various groups in modern society (Xu, 2017), resulting in a digital divide. The concept of the digital divide originated from the 1991 book "Power Shift: Knowledge, Wealth, and Violence at the Edge of the 21st Century" by American scholar Alvin Toffler. Toffler defined the digital divide as "the gap in the ability to apply information networks on a macro level between different countries, regions, and industries" (Toffler, 2006).Prior to this, academia used more general concepts such as information inequality, information gap, knowledge gap, computer literacy, or media literacy. Specifically, the digital divide is mainly divided into the first (Riggins & Dewan, 2008 ), second (DiMaggio et al., 2004 ), and third divides (Robles et al., 2011 ), namely, the "access gap", "usage gap", and "knowledge gap". The access gap involves issues of digital infrastructure and technology accessibility, the usage gap faces challenges in the application of digital technology and information acquisition, and the knowledge gap highlights the elderly's insufficient information literacy and limited ability to use information technology. Studies have shown that even after the first access gap is popularized, the second and third gaps will still expand (Deursen & Dijk, 2019 ). 2.2 Digital Divide Among the Rural Elderly The digital divide among the elderly is a recognized phenomenon (Demoussis & Giannakopoulos, 2006 ). Academic research on this topic has examined two levels: endogenous attributes and external environments. In terms of endogenous attributes, factors such as limited education (María, 2010; Wilson et al., 2003 ), declining cognitive abilities, distrust in technology security, and weak adaptability to digital life lead the elderly into the digital divide (Lin, 2020; Zhou, 2016). In terms of external environments, impacts such as the COVID-19 pandemic (Song et al., 2021; Spanakis et al., 2021 ), lack of economic strength (Cruz-Jesus et al., 2018 ), absence of social connections, insufficient application of aging adaptations, the existence of gender stereotypes (Nadine & Michael, 2017), and the lack of aging design in smart devices and digital products hinder the elderly from integrating into digital society (Lu & Wei, 2021; Xu, 2022). Additionally, from the perspective of sustainable development in the digital age, social class and reliance on digital capital also play a regulatory role in the digital divide (Singh et al., 2022). Gunasekaran et al. identified three main factors affecting the bridging of the digital divide: accessibility, usability, and the affordability of services and applications (Gunasekaran et al., 2006). How to effectively address the digital divide among the rural elderly has also been discussed to a certain extent in academia: Szeles used a multi-level analysis (three-level random slope model) to analyze the regional and national determinants of the digital divide in the EU region, suggesting that only a combination of effective regional and national measures can alleviate the regional digital divide in the EU (Szeles, 2018 ). At the regional and national levels, measures such as stimulating regional economic growth, improving higher education qualifications, increasing R&D expenditure, and preventing early school leaving can bridge the digital divide in the EU region. For society, this means cultural feedback and re-education, as well as digital feedback based on the family (An and Wang, 2020 ); for businesses, it involves actively adjusting technology to enhance the aging adaptation of smart products and providing accessible digital services for the elderly (Liu et al., 2022); for the government, strengthening the digital rights of the elderly, clarifying public responsibilities, constructing a new industrial ecology, and improving governance mechanisms can bridge the digital divide (Yang & Pan, 2021); for the elderly themselves, it is necessary to focus on the value logic of the elderly obtaining digital resources, actively integrating into digital society, and improving digital information literacy to achieve self-improvement in digital society. 2.3 Informationization construction in Rural China Rural infrastructure construction is a fundamental need to ensure the production and life in rural areas. It also holds significant importance for the expansion of living space, resource sharing, and the optimization of the living environment for rural residents in China. Since the proposal of the rural revitalization strategy, the Chinese government has accelerated the construction of digital infrastructure in rural areas (Wang et al, 2020 ). By reviewing the existing literature, it is found that the current infrastructure construction in rural China is characterized by three typical characteristics: (1) High participation of technology enterprises. The government guides technology enterprises to direct the deployment of digital infrastructure to rural areas through incentive policies or government purchase of services (Zhang & Li, 2023). (2) A multi-level infrastructure network is gradually taking shape. The central government has set up special funds for digital villages, local governments have established digital infrastructure project departments through the PPP model, and each village has implemented specific digital infrastructure projects, forming a multi-level digital infrastructure network (Jean, 2021 ). (3) Bidirectional adjustment between digital technology and the rural social ecosystem. The popularization of digital technology facilities in rural areas has, to a certain extent, restructured rural production relations (Guo et al, 2023), while local knowledge has also fed back to innovate the application paradigms of digital technology, forming a special path of technology socialization (Chen, 2023 ). It is also worth noting that some studies have pointed out that the current digital infrastructure construction in rural China still neglects some practical issues. For instance, China's infrastructure investment shows a significant regional imbalance, with the eastern provinces receiving far more investment than the western ones, and the western mountainous areas have hardly initiated any substantial projects (Li, et al., 2010). Due to the government or enterprises' neglect of training villagers, villagers, lacking digital literacy, are unable to effectively utilize digital tools, leading to many digital infrastructure projects being abandoned after completion in villages (Wang & Dong, 2023). Moreover, the potential service targets of most rural digital infrastructure are middle-aged and young people, with a lack of attention to the elderly group (Kuang & Wu, 2025). These issues await further research and practice from the academic community. 2.4 Key Insights Existing studies have conducted research in several areas including network and rural development, elderly internet usage, and the digital divide among the elderly population, and have achieved certain results. There are also studies that explore the issue of the digital divide among the elderly, analyzing it from aspects such as causes, impacts, and current situations, and providing suggestions and approaches for the elderly to overcome the digital divide. This can provide a large amount of reference basis and theoretical foundation for this article. However, the existing research still has some shortcomings: First, it ignores the structural background and conditions of the digital divide among rural elderly. The digital divide should be placed within the specific context of rural society in order to more comprehensively grasp the generation logic of the digital divide among rural elderly groups. Second, the existing research mainly focuses on the use of the Internet by the entire elderly population or urban elderly groups. The survey methods adopted are mostly data surveys, that is, an overall and objective investigation through data. There is relatively low attention to rural elderly groups, and there is less qualitative research on the adaptation of rural elderly groups to the digital society. This study uses social exclusion theory as the theoretical framework to specifically analyze the current situation and generation logic of the digital divide faced by the rural elderly in the digital society, and proposes targeted strategies. 3. Theoretical Framework Social exclusion theory constitutes a fundamental theoretical framework for digital divide research. Compared to alternative theories, it demonstrates unique interpretive power in analyzing the digital divide. First, the theory provides profound theoretical grounding for identifying and understanding the digital divide, conceptualizing it as a manifestation of social exclusion in the digital era. This perspective transcends mere technical access disparities, revealing structural social barriers underlying digital technology use—including unequal distribution of economic, cultural, and social capital—that disadvantage certain groups in digitalization processes. Second, social exclusion theory emphasizes the dynamic and cumulative nature of social inequality, arguing that the digital divide reflects institutional arrangements and social structures rather than merely individual capability deficits. Finally, it offers targeted guidance for developing inclusive policies, advocating for governmental intervention and social support to reduce digital exclusion while promoting pluralistic integration and social justice. Such policy orientation focuses not only on expanding technical infrastructure but fundamentally addresses participation barriers, thereby mitigating social fragmentation caused by the digital divide. The concept of social exclusion was pioneered by French scholar René Lenoir, who theorized that individuals or communities become marginalized when deprived of essential social resources, leading to disconnection from societal mainstream (Lenoir, 1974). Social exclusion typically results from multidimensional factors—political, economic, cultural, and technological—better characterized through qualitative description than quantitative measurement (Pierson, 1999). Crucially, social exclusion encompasses not only material deprivation but also limited participation in socio-economic, political, and cultural spheres, coupled with alienation from dominant social norms (Duffy, 1998 ). Empirical applications thus require contextualization within specific socio-ecological environments (Creswel, 2007 ). In China's scholarly discourse, Peng Hua-min's taxonomy of social exclusion has gained wide acceptance (Fang, 2020; Chen & Liu, 2023 ). She categorizes exclusion into six dimensions: personal, economic, institutional, cultural, technological, and social, with real-world cases often involving multiple coexisting types (Peng, 2007 ). Building upon this framework, our study develops an integrated theoretical model to analyze digital divides among rural elderly populations, concluding with evidence-based policy recommendations.The theoretical framework is illustrated in Fig. 1 . Figure 1 is about here. 4. Research Methods and Data Sources Currently, the most widespread tool for digital integration is the smartphone, which is also the most frequently used communication device among rural elderly in China. According to the "China Internet Development Statistical Report," by 2024, the ownership rate of smartphones among rural elderly people has reached 80%, ranking first among all digital product ownership rates, and the internet penetration rate in rural areas has reached 66%. This study operationalizes "digital integration" as "the use of smartphones," a process that is also recognized by other academic researchers (Kuang, 2022; He et al., 2020 ). Considering the differences in the subjective understanding and cooperation of the interviewees, the specific survey method mainly uses semi-structured interviews combined with participatory observation by the researcher. The research location of this study is Ding Village, which located in Nanjing City. The Ding Village had a registered population of 2632 people, among which there are about 705 elderly people over 60 years old. The choice of the Ding Village as the research location is based on the principle of convenient sampling. The researchers all work and live in Nanjing City, are familiar with the social customs of Nanjing, and are also familiar with the current situation of rural elderly people. In addition, as typical rural residential areas for elderly people in Nanjing City, the Ding Village is conducive to researchers observing and collecting rich interview data. The researchers first selected elderly people over 60 years old in the village as the sampling target, and then randomly selected a total of 212 elderly people (accounting for 30% of the elderly population in the village) as the interview targets. The specific interview method is semi-structured, and 125 elderly people agreed to participate in this study. After the interview, researchers organized, summarized, and coded the interview materials. First, the original text of the material was conceptualized, and then it was coded through open coding, axial coding, and selective coding in three stages. 5. The Causes of the Digital Divide This study used open coding to form 9 preliminary categories, then summarized them into 7 main categories through axial coding, and finally formed 3 core categories through selective coding. That is the rural elderly mainly face difficulties in three aspects: device integration, emotional integration, and social integration, as shown in Table 1 . Table 1 Three-level coding scale for the current situation of the digital divide of rural Chinese elderly Core Scope Main Scope Initial Scope Conceptualization Original source text Barriers to Device Integration Smart Device Function Utilization Difficulty Limited to Basic Communication Functions No use I only use my senior citizen cell phone to make and receive calls, nothing else. Active Refusal to Use No demand I don't want to get a cell phone, and I don't contact anyone enough to use it. Network Connection & Quality Difficulty Using someone else's network Using someone else's network I'm using my neighbor's internet, and it's very convenient. Poor Network Stability Network lag Brush the video for a long time, will not show up, and sometimes WeChat can not send it out, I do not have the patience to wait so open the flow, but it is very expensive, and I can not afford to. Dilemma of Emotional Integration Generational divide Difficulty Understanding Youth Digital Expressions No understanding Sometimes I read the circle of friends sent by the children and talk to them, but I don't understand what they want to express. Weak Social Connectivity Among Elderly Narrow Offline Social Circles & Lack of Digital Interaction No friends to contact I don't have any contact with my old classmates anymore, except for my family, there is no one I can contact. Challenges in Social Integration Lack of Offline Digital Support Encountering Impatience When Seeking Help Impatience of others This year, when I paid for my medical insurance, I changed to pay it on my cell phone, but I didn't know how to do it, so I found a young man to help me and he was still impatient. Online Service/Product Supply Bias Lack of Age-Friendly Products/Services Needs ignored I want to try online shopping, but I found that there are very few advertisements for people of my age. Stigmatized Elderly Image in Cyberspace Exposure to Negative Online Remarks & Labeling Inappropriate remarks by others Some of the inappropriate comments in the TikTok APP directed at older people make me very angry. Table 1 is about here. 5.1 Barriers to Device Integration Rural elderly populations, as key actors in the digital era, face a dual challenge in the access gap: low ownership rates of smart devices and insufficient wireless network coverage.Regarding smart device ownership and usage, influenced by both economic constraints and functional needs, rural seniors weigh the cost and utility when purchasing and using smartphones. Some elderly villagers, unable to continue farming due to physical limitations, lack income sources and cannot afford smartphones or data plans. Simultaneously, residing in close-knit communities where daily social interactions and affairs are predominantly conducted through face-to-face contact, their functional demand for smartphones remains relatively low.Another segment opts for basic feature phones ("elderly phones") due to unfamiliarity with smartphones. These devices better align with seniors' practical needs through larger fonts, simplified interfaces, and lower costs compared to smartphones. Consequently, feature phones remain prevalent among this demographic.Secondly, rural elders' attitudes toward wireless network access generally mirror their stance on smartphone usage. Since smartphones typically rely on Wi-Fi connectivity, some seniors forgo smartphone adoption due to concerns about data plan expenses. Others resort to free-riding on others' networks—an informal access pattern reflecting the passive nature of their internet engagement. Collectively, the knowledge base of rural seniors struggles to adapt to rapidly evolving digital technologies. Compounded by declining physiological capacities (e.g., vision, hearing), suboptimal user experiences, and limited economic resources, these internal and external factors result in depressed adoption rates for both smart devices and wireless networks. This creates structural barriers at the device-integration level, ultimately constraining this group's right to equal participation in the digital society. 5.2 Dilemma of Emotional Integration Ogburn proposed the concept of cultural lag in his book "Social Change: The Culture and Nature of Man." Its manifestations mainly include the external identity changing faster than the improvement of internal quality, the external environment changing faster than the speed of psychological adaptation, and objective institutional settings changing faster than the establishment of subjective consciousness (Ogburn, 1989 ). Although a small part of the rural elderly group has access to smart devices, due to their own lack of corresponding digital technology and operational experience, they can only use the basic functions of smartphones, such as making phone calls and taking photos. On the other hand, the first way for most elderly people to obtain information is still traditional media (Ren et al., 2022), As some left-behind elderly explained, they avoid mobile payment systems due to illiteracy, poor memory, and perceived complexity: "Handing cash directly is simpler than scanning payment QR codes." Furthermore, constrained by unreliable wireless coverage and connectivity issues, the effectiveness of smart devices remains suboptimal, diminishing their practical utility. Even those who acquire devices and basic skills struggle to fulfill emotional needs through digital channels, lacking peer support networks for digital engagement and facing intergenerational cognitive divides. Confronted with rapid technological evolution amidst cultural lag, adaptation capabilities reveal stark intergenerational disparities. While younger generations require considerable time to adapt, older adults face daunting challenges. The intergenerational divide manifests distinctly in: information acquisition preferences, content-filtering capacities, information-processing abilities. These divergences, intensified by individual and environmental factors, ultimately exacerbate the intergenerational digital divide in contemporary digital societies. 5.3 Challenges in Social Integration At the digital literacy gap level, three primary dimensions emerge: social exclusion, media exclusion, and stigmatizing labels. First, social exclusion manifests predominantly through younger generations' attitudes toward the elderly. This exclusion reflects systemic neglect of rural seniors at the societal level. Younger individuals' impatience during digital interactions epitomizes the longstanding disregard and implicit discrimination against older populations. Second, media exclusion in the digital ecosystem. Internet enterprises routinely overlook the market potential of the silver economy during technology R&D and product design. The absence of age-specific accommodations creates inherent age-based barriers in digital products, resulting in implicit exclusion of rural elders. Some left-behind elderly experience depression after financial losses from mobile investments, while others develop unnecessary anxiety due to inability to discern online misinformation. When unable to utilize smartphones or digital tools appropriately, these technologies may inversely damage seniors' physical and mental wellbeing. Third, societal stigmatization. Stereotypes such as "frail and sickly," "moral failings in old age," and "clinging to traditions" not only perpetuate public prejudice but also marginalize rural elders within digital society. The access gap and usage gap collectively diminish rural seniors' technical proficiency with smart devices, subsequently creating hierarchical disparities in digital literacy and cognitive capacities. Compounded by pre-existing stigmatization, systemic social exclusion, and structural media exclusion, these factors generate a compound effect that severely impedes this group's social integration. 6. The Generation Mechanism of the Digital Divide The digital divide among the elderly population is mainly influenced by both micro and macro factors from the perspective of social exclusion. At the macro level, the factors causing social exclusion are often structural, institutional, and systemic in nature. At the micro level, the factors that lead to social exclusion include disadvantaged regions and the people residing in them. External objective factors and internal physiological and psychological subjective factors are the comprehensive reasons for the digital divide among the elderly. The researchers conceptualizes the interview materials and then codes them level by level. Through open coding, 21 preliminary categories were formed, then summarized into 11 main categories through axial coding, and finally formed 5 core categories through selective coding. The specific process is shown in Table 2 . Table 2 Three-level coding scale for the generative logic of the digital divide for rural Chinese elderly Core Scope Main Scope Initial Scope Conceptualization Original source text Personal Exclusion Physiological factors Physiological deterioration Dimmed eyesight My eyes are not good, I have to wear presbyopic to see clearly, and I am tired of watching for a while, so I don't want to watch anymore. Diminished Motivation from Senior Self-Identity Old I'm old, and unlike the young, it's useless to learn all that new stuff. Psychological factors High perceived risk Defensive I'm afraid of being scammed, so I don't dare to touch my cell phone. Attempt Reluctance from Self-Deprecation Low self-esteem It is said that the elderly are stupid, I also think I am too stupid, so I can not learn to use a smartphone. Economic exclusion Economic cost factors Unaffordable Device Cost Limitations of personal economic level I can't afford to buy a smartphone because it's so expensive. Skill Acquisition Barrier from Time Scarcity Time-consuming and laborious I don't have the time or the energy to re-learn all that. Institutional exclusion Institutional Safeguard Gap Legal Vacuum in Elderly Digital Rights Lack of relevant laws and regulations No one pays attention to us, let alone has any laws to protect our rights. Ambiguous Accountability in Grassroots Governance Unclear responsibility I can't tell which departments in the township government are responsible for what. Functional Disorder Usage Exclusion from Forced Digitization Change of public service model I couldn't find a specific place to pay for my health insurance, but when I asked, I found out that I had to pay by cell phone. Technical exclusion Technology platform factors Technological convenience Complicated operation procedures The mobile app is too complicated. One might accidentally click the wrong option. Last time I clicked wrongly and ended up placing an order for something, but there was no such thing as (return and cover shipping cost) insurance. It was all a hassle. Usefulness of technology Low demand for smart devices Apart from making phone calls to my children and watching some videos when I have spare time, I don't do anything else and I also don't make purchases on my phone. Limited technology Single mode function They say that the care mode is good, except for the larger characters, I feel that there is no other difference. Information factors Cognitive Distraction from Multi-platform Fragmentation Information distribution decentralization Which (APP) is on the top of the message, I will go to WeChat, Shake Voice, Beauty, and Himalaya every day to read the message. Information overload Much information If you don't check (the push notifications from the WeChat official account) for a day, you'll see many little red dots (unread messages) popping up. There are too many messages from platforms like Tencent News, WeChat Sports, WeChat Groups, etc. Social exclusion Family factor Lack of intergenerational feedback Little intergenerational interaction The children are too busy to patiently teach me how to use it. Educational factors Literacy Deficiency Hindering Basic Operation Literacy limitations I only went to school for two years, and I don't know any words, so I can't even use a senior citizen's cell phone, let alone a smartphone. Social service factors Unsustainable Passive Instruction Strong passivity in learning Sometimes there would be someone (a community worker) who would come specifically to teach, but that was their job. They taught and then left, not being with you all the time, which made me still not quite understand. Scarcity of Elderly-focused Digital Education Insufficient social services I haven't seen anyone teaching the elderly how to use a cell phone. Environmental factors Underdeveloped Digital Infrastructure in Villages Inadequate infrastructure The infrastructure in the countryside is not as good as that in the city. Traditional Recreation Diverting Digital Demand More choices of entertainment I can listen to a play or watch TV when I'm free, I don't have to have a cell phone to be entertained. Technology Apathy Contagion Among Peers Negative attitude In the village, there are only a few people of my age who can use smartphones. You can count them on one hand. Table 2 is about here. 6.1 Personal Exclusion For the elderly population in rural areas, apart from the demographic and sociological characteristics that they cannot change themselves, their level of cognition and acceptance of digital products also play a crucial role in determining the role of information technology in the minds of the elderly individuals. The highly digitalized scenario configuration deprives the disconnected and relatively disconnected individuals of the right to enjoy the same quality of social life as the well-adjusted individuals. On one hand, the digital divide faced by the elderly population in integrating into the digital society mainly stems from their insufficient understanding of digital technology. When rural elders first come into contact with digital information technology, they may think that learning new things is unnecessary. They are accustomed to their original way of life and are not concerned about the rapid iteration of digital technologies from the outside world. Some elders are afraid that they will damage their smartphones if they do not operate the steps correctly, some elders are worried that asking young people how to use a smartphone will cause them trouble, some elders are afraid that online scammers will cheat them of money, and some elders develop learned helplessness due to not receiving help from others repeatedly, so they feel frustrated about using digital information technology. For those who are disconnected, that is, elderly individuals who have not yet integrated into the digital society, their long-term hard work and the lack of timely and advanced medical services have led to a low level of health, resulting in digital adaptation failure, and when they attempt to integrate into the digital society, they encounter repeated setbacks or develop a "digital exclusion" mentality after realizing the lack of channels for acquiring the skills to integrate. On the other hand, the digital literacy of rural elderly people is insufficient. Digital literacy encompasses the various qualities and abilities that citizens in the digital society need in learning, working, and living, such as digital acquisition, production, application, evaluation, interaction, sharing, innovation, security protection, and ethics and morality. Most rural elders have not received good education, and some have never left the countryside throughout their lives. They cannot recognize Chinese characters and pinyin letters, cannot speak Mandarin, let alone understand professional terms in digital information technology. Even if they can search for information through mainstream search engines like Baidu, they are hindered by a large amount of useless or indistinguishable information. A series of obstacles caused by the low cultural level of rural elders ultimately force rural elders to increasingly disconnect from the intelligent era and be excluded from digital life. 6.2 Economic Exclusion One important aspect of the digital divide among rural elderly people is economic exclusion. The economic income of rural elderly people mainly consists of three parts: the money earned through their own labor, government subsidies, and alimony given by their children. As the elderly age, some lose their ability to work and have less income. Only a few elderly people can afford to spend on digital products and services. During interviews, some elderly people said, "A smart phone costs several thousand yuan. We can't afford it. It's all bought by our children." Others believed, "Once you leave home, you can no longer use the internet at home and need to purchase additional data. Just the internet at home costs several hundred yuan a year. If you want to use data, it seems that you need an extra ten yuan. Plus the miscellaneous fees on the phone, you need to pay them all." With the increasingly improved protection measures for network copyrights, digital payment has become a basic cost for online space operation. Although some platforms, content, and resources do not require additional payment in name, they still need to bear additional costs such as communication fees, time costs, etc. The economic cost of the digital society has an inherent characteristic of being compulsory and continuous. It is difficult for individual choices to change the basic nature of the confrontation. In contrast, the income sources of the elderly population are very limited, and intergenerational economic support is relatively weak. Retirement income and social security subsidies are even insufficient to support them in bearing the cost of digital integration, which makes the elderly population have to bear the risk of rising economic costs. 6.3 Institutional Exclusion The level and attitude of the government's digital governance are crucial for the digital rights of rural elderly groups, as well as for their pursuit of a good digital life and their aspiration for a good digital society. However, in the actual government digital governance work, there are certain problems such as incomplete institutional mechanisms and limited government governance capabilities. Firstly, the institutional mechanisms are incomplete and the government's digital governance level is limited. One issue is that the regulatory laws and regulations are lagging behind. The development speed of the digital society is fast, and the regulatory laws and regulations may lag behind technological development, resulting in insufficient and ineffective supervision. The capacity of regulatory agencies is insufficient. Some regulatory agencies may lack professional knowledge and technical capabilities in the digital society, making it difficult to effectively supervise the safety of digital products and services. Another issue is that the regulatory scope is unclear. In the digital society, multiple departments and institutions are involved in supervision, and an unclear regulatory scope may lead to regulatory loopholes and blind spots. Secondly, in the digital age, public services blindly pursue digitization and paperlessness, without fully considering whether the elderly can adapt to such changes. This "one-size-fits-all" approach not only causes inconvenience in the daily lives of the elderly but also gradually marginalizes them and excludes them from new technologies. Moreover, the government's provision of educational training in digital information technology for rural elderly is rather lacking. In some regions, the government distributes digital devices such as smart wristbands to the elderly in urban communities and offers them for free trial use. However, rural elderly do not receive the aforementioned economic subsidies from the government for accessing network services and purchasing digital devices. The solution to the digital integration dilemma of rural elderly groups often requires the collaborative efforts of multiple functional departments, but the existing hierarchical governance structure limits the governance work to a single functional department, which can easily lead to each department acting independently and shirking responsibility. The insufficient policy response fails to focus on the real digital needs of rural elderly groups, and also goes against the original intention of digital governance in the context of active aging. 6.4 Technological Exclusion The digital divide faced by the elderly when integrating into the digital society mainly stems from technical factors of digital products. Internet enterprises mostly operate based on corporate interests, without considering the actual situation of the elderly population. Instead, they target relatively younger groups as their main target audience when launching digital products. Firstly, the technical complexity is a major issue. Currently, most smart devices have complex operation procedures, small font sizes on the pages, and high screen brightness, making it difficult for the elderly to understand and operate new technologies and digital products. They are prone to making mistakes or improper settings during use. Secondly, there are false information issues. Some digital products may have security vulnerabilities and insufficient security, making them vulnerable to hacker attacks and data leakage. Elderly people are more likely to suffer from online fraud and information leakage risks when using these digital products. Thirdly, the design of digital products does not meet the needs of the elderly. Many digital products do not take into account the special needs of the elderly, such as small fonts, unclear colors, and complex operation methods, causing difficulties and inconvenience for the elderly when using digital products. The update and replacement of digital products are becoming faster and their operation steps are increasing, making the process of adapting and integrating into digital life for rural elderly people more challenging. Secondly, smart devices have strong substitutability for rural elderly people and lack sufficient appeal. The existing features of smart products ignore the habits of the elderly. Such product design reduces the self-efficacy of elderly users. Therefore, in most cases, these digital devices often make elderly people feel frustrated and reluctant to use them, to a certain extent, reducing their desire to purchase. Finally, although the adaptation of APPs for the elderly is in full swing, the "care features" only perform superficial work and fail to match the physiological functions and psychological feelings of elderly people's operation of intelligent devices, that is, they do not achieve comprehensive and multi-level "adapting to the elderly" transformation. 6.5 Social Exclusion The absence of digital feedback, insufficient supply of social service resources, and the influence of the social environment have all brought certain deficiencies to the digital support network of society, causing a loss of focus on the issues of digital integration by the society. On one hand, there is a lack of digital feedback. The support and assistance from family members play a direct role in solving the problem of digital integration for the elderly. In terms of purchasing new digital devices, accessing new digital products, and solving the problems and difficulties encountered, family opinions will be the main reference basis for the elderly group. However, in reality, the phenomenon of inadequate digital feedback is very obvious. From the perspective of children, the understanding of the elderly group's digital integration is not in place, the traditional elderly care concept has a deep stereotype, and there is not enough patience and correct methods. Some elderly people mentioned, "My son is always busy with work, and he has little time to come back, so there is no time to care about my problems on the internet." Some elderly people will actively reduce the purchase volume of digital products and conceal their own demands. On the other hand, there is a lack of digital education in rural communities. This deficiency mainly lies in the scarcity of educational resources, the lack of digital educational resources for the elderly in the community, or the course settings not being close to the actual needs of the elderly, lacking flexibility and individualization, and not achieving the desired effect. Moreover, the traditional educational methods are often more suitable for young people, such as fast pace and large amount of information input, which may be too abstract or difficult for the elderly to understand. The speed and method of elderly people learning new skills are different from those of young people, but the existing digital education lacks personalized guidance and support, which cannot meet the learning needs of the elderly. Therefore, providing suitable digital risk education courses and resources for the elderly group, adopting teaching methods closer to the learning characteristics of the elderly, and providing personalized guidance and support will help the elderly group integrate into the digital society. 7. Discussion This study reveals that the issue of digital social exclusion among rural elderly groups not only relates to the digital capabilities of the elderly themselves, but also involves multiple levels such as policy formulation and implementation, community services, family development, and self-awareness. Based on the above findings, the following brief discussion will involve the governance approaches to the digital divide among elderly people in rural areas. 7.1 Cultivating Endogenous Motivation among Rural Elders To address population aging, the international community has proposed frameworks including successful aging, healthy aging, productive aging, and active aging. The latter denotes a trajectory where seniors achieve rising levels of health, social participation, and security. Within this paradigm, aging transcends individual physiology or cohort-specific concerns, constituting a whole-population life-course issue. Participation stands as the cornerstone of active aging. Elderly, being recognized as reservoirs of untapped social capital, should be afforded opportunities to be engaged in socioeconomic, cultural, and public activities that are commensurate with their capacities. Drawing from this framework, rural elders should develop intrinsic motivation to participate—however modestly—in digital life. Crucially, they require not merely social integration but digital society integration, selectively embracing technologies while exercising their right to quality-of-life autonomy. Strengthening peer networks mitigates social isolation. Former classmates, coworkers, and neighbors form critical homophilic support circles for rural seniors. Shared age, interests, and life experiences enable mutual assistance in device usage, perspective-sharing, and experiential learning—gradually reshaping social mindsets and behaviors. 7.2 Fulfilling Governmental Accountability Amid accelerating digitalization from 5G deployment to emerging 6G, governments should proactively shoulder responsibility. Leveraging new infrastructure initiatives, they should eliminate connectivity barriers for rural elders, bridging the urban-rural digital divide. Digital integration remains elective—not mandatory—for rural seniors. Service sectors they frequent (e.g., social security, healthcare) should retain non-digital options, respecting autonomy. Furthermore, age-adaptive legal reforms should safeguard fundamental digital rights. Clarifying rural elders' status as rights-holders requires: (1)enhanced legislation on mobile payments, online fraud, and other high-impact domains; (2)contextualized provisions promoting digital inclusion and combating digital discrimination. 7.3 Strengthening Age-Conscious Technology Design Current tech platforms prioritize market demands over elders' needs. A paradigm shift toward gerontocentric design is imperative. First, cultivate positive digital portrayals of rural elders. Platforms should counter sensationalist media narratives by enforcing responsible content governance. Second, intensify age-friendly adaptations for commonly used rural apps. While enriching daily life, incorporate anti-addiction features to enhance self-regulation and mental wellbeing. China's "9073 eldercare model" (90% home-based, 7% community-supported, 3% institutional) underscores homecare's centrality. Tech solutions should accommodate vulnerable subgroups—including rural empty-nesters, disabled, cognitively impaired, and isolated seniors—while addressing "longevity risk". Ultimately, prioritize privacy and asset security through simplified interfaces and multilayered data protection. 7.4 Constructing Multidimensional Support Networks Social support encompasses formal networks (communities, NGOs, volunteers, media) and informal networks (family, children, relatives). Formal Networks: (1)Communities: Establish permanent digital assistance mechanisms, empowering rural social workers. (2)NGOs/Volunteers: Target digital resources directly to elders via face-to-face support. (3)Media: Reconstruct dignified digital narratives of rural seniors. (4)Informal Networks:Implement digital upward reverse mentoring across three dimensions mirroring the digital divide: ①Access Mentoring: Younger generations facilitate device acquisition. ②Skills Mentoring: Youth teach practical device operation. ③Literacy Mentoring: Youth foster critical digital understanding. This intergenerational exchange simultaneously advances digital inclusion and strengthens familial bonds. 8. Conclusion At present, the digital dividends generated by the iterative development of digital technologies have not automatically transformed into public goods that all members of society can equally enjoy. Instead, under the domination of the instrumental rationality, they have been simplified into a one-dimensional governance paradigm that centers on maximizing efficiency and is underpinned by market logic. One possible consequence of this is that the digital landscape of future society is locked in advance in the current political and economic processes, and some groups are excluded from this landscape (Zheng & Chen, 2024 ), facing the risk of disentanglement of their citizenship due to the lack of digital capability. For this research, digital technology should have been a tool for inclusive development, however, in the urban-rural dual structure, it has been transformed into a new carrier of social exclusion. The rural elderly group encounters not merely a simple problem of technological adaptation, but a structural exclusion caused by the combined effects of institutional design flaws, cultural capital disconnection, and deprivation of technological rights. This exclusion manifests not only as the weakening of accessibility to public services, but also as a profound erosion of their social participation capabilities, forming a vicious cycle of "digital disempowerment—social isolation—degradation of development capabilities". In this process, the elderly group is not only the object of technological acceptance but also the subject of digital knowledge reproduction. Their experiential narratives and the standardized logic of the technological system form a creative tension. The potential marginal contributions of this qualitative study are as follows: First, from a macro perspective based on social exclusion theory, a four-dimensional analytical framework at the micro level—"personal exclusion, economic exclusion, institutional exclusion, and technological exclusion"—is constructed to help people objectively understand the formation mechanism of the digital divide among rural elderly in China. The study finds that this analytical framework not only effectively explains the multi-source, structural, and spatial heterogeneity characteristics of the digital divide but also tests the applicability of social exclusion theory in digital society research. Second, the study introduces the concept of "multidimensional deprivation" from social exclusion theory, expanding the discussion of the digital divide to multiple aspects of social life, with particular attention to the implicit exclusion of rural elderly in new social contexts such as digital payments and data security. This timely addresses the gaps in current research. Third, this paper abandons the currently popular quantitative research methods in favor of a qualitative case narrative approach, attempting to provide abstract digital divide issues with perceptible concrete forms through tangible social observations and personalized experiential insights. This case-based narrative not only helps the public overcome barriers in technological cognition but also inspires empathy and reflection on social equity issues in the digital age among people with diverse knowledge backgrounds. In the future, researches on the governance of the digital divide among the elderly urgently need to break away from the single path of instrumental rationality and shift towards a more inclusive analytical framework: on the one hand, by redefining the distribution principles of digital public goods from the perspective of distributive justice, including the elderly in the entire process of technology design, data legislation, and platform governance; On the other hand, efforts should be made to transform digital technology into accumulative and quantifiable social capital, continuously deepen research under the paradigm of "technology — society" collaborative evolution, and promote the universal access of digital civilization achievements for all ages. Declarations Ethical approval This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013) and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by School of Public Administration, Hohai University on 15/11/2022. The approval number is 25YJCZH396. All procedures involving human participants were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Ethical approval was obtained on 15/11/2022 from School of Public Administration, Hohai University. Informed consent Written informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study on 01/12/2022 to 31/12/2027. Consent was obtained by trained research assistants prior to any study procedures. Participants were provided with detailed information about the study purpose, procedures, potential risks and benefits, confidentiality measures, and their right to withdraw at any time without penalty. A copy of the signed informed consent form is available for review by the Editor of this journal upon request. Competing Interests The researchers have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. Author Contribution According to the CRediT statement: Shengcong Wang wrote the original draft, and Nana Zheng performed writing-review and editing. Nana Zheng and Shuqi Ye contributed to conceptualization. Shengcong Wang was responsible for data curation, formal analysis, software, supervision, and project administration (together with Nana Zheng), and investigation (together with Shuqi Ye). Shuqi Ye contributed to methodology, validation, visualization, and investigation. Nana Zheng acquired funding, provided resources, and administered the project. All authors reviewed the manuscript. Acknowledgement We would like to thank all the editors and reviewers for their professional work, constructive comments, and valuable suggestions on this study. Data Availability Since the datasets supporting the study’s findings are not from publicly available datasets, we do not currently have the right to provide data without the consent of other researchers. Thank you for understanding. References Alvin Toffler. The Transfer of Rights. Wu Yingchun, Fu Ling, Translation. Beijing: CITIC Press,2006. An L., Wang Z. (2020). Filial Piety and Equal Rights: Cultural Feedback and Re-Nurturing in the Digital Divide: A Study on the Parent-Child Relationship between College Students and Parents on the WeChat Platform. China Youth Social Sciences, (04):111-117. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/SU142114508 Chen, H., & Liu, S. (2023). Housing exclusion of migrant workers: Interaction process and production mechanism. Journal of East China University of Science and Technology (Social Science Edition), 38(3), 121-135. Chen Shilin. (2023). General Theory of Digital Rural Construction. Beijing: China Agriculture Press. China Internet Network Information Center. (2023). The 52nd Statistical Report on China’s Internet Development. Creswel J.W., (2007). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. Cruz-Jesus F., Oliveira T., & Bacao, F. (2018). The global digital divide: evidence and drivers. Journal of Global Information Management (JGIM), 26(2), 1-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/JGIM.2018040101 Demoussis M., Giannakopoulos N. A. . (2006). Facets of the digital divide in Europe: determination and extent of internet use. Economics of Innovation and New Technology, 15(3), https://doi.org/235-246.10.1080/10438590500216016 Deursen, A. J., & van Dijk, J. A. (2019). The first-level digital divide shifts from physical access to material access inequalities. New Media & Society, 21(2), 354-375. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444818797082 DiMaggio, P., Hargittai, E., Celeste, C., & Shafer, S. (2004). From unequal access to differentiated use: A literature review and agenda for research on digital inequality. Social inequality, 1, 355-400. Duffy K. (1998). The Human Dignity and Social Exclusion Project-research Opportunity and Risk: Trends of Social Exclusion in Europe, Council of Europe. Eubanks V. (2018). Automating Inequality: How High-tech Tools Profile, Police, and Punish The Pool. New York: St. Martin's Press. Fang Changchun. (2020). Housing for China’s urban immigrants: from the perspective of social exclusion. Sociological Study , (04): 58-80.https://doi.org/10.19934/j.cnki.shxyj.2020.04.004 Galperin H., Bar F., and Nguyen H. (2021). The power divide: Mobile communication in Los Angeles' Skid Row. Mobile Media & Communication , (01): 30-50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2050157920932608 Gunkel D J. (2003). Second thoughts: Toward a critique of the digital divide. New Media & Society , (04): 499-522. https://doi.org/10.1177/146144480354003 Gunasekaran Vinoth, Fotios C. Harmantzis.(2006).Emerging wireless technologies for developing countries. Technology in Society, (1):23-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2006.10.001 Guo Hongdong, Zeng Yiwu, & Qu Jiang. (2023). Digital Countryside Construction: Theory and Practice. Hangzhou: Zhejiang University Press. Hannan B., Eynon R. (2025). Widening the digital divide: the mediating role of intelligent tutoring systems in the relationship between rurality, socioeducational advantage, and mathematics learning outcomes.Computers & Education, (233): 105312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2025.105312 He, Z., Zhang, X., & Wan, G. (2020). Digital finance, digital divide, and multidimensional poverty. Statistical Research, 37(10), 79-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.19343/j.cnki.11-1302/c.2020.10.007. Jean. C. Oi. (2021). Rural China Takes Off: Institutional Foundations of Economic Reform. Li Weidong, Translation. Beijing: China Social Science Press. John Pierson. (1999). Tackling Social Exclusion. New York: Rougtledge. Kuang Yalin. (2022). Digital Integration Barriers of the Elderly: Influencing Factors, User Portraits and Policy Responses. Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Social Sciences Edition), (01):46-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.19648/j.cnki.jhustss1980.2022.01.06. Kuang Yalin, Wu Jiaxin. (2025). Digital symbiosis: Construction of a digital inclusive ecosystem for the rural elderly. Jiangsu Social Science, (02): 132-141. Levy H., Janke A.T., & Langa K. M. (2015). Health literacy and the digital divide among older americans. Journal of General Internal Medicine, (12): 284–289. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-014-3069-5 Li R., Wang Q. & Yang T. (2025). Digital economy and carbon efficiency: the roles of population aging and human capital. Humanities and Social Sciences Communities, (12): 646. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04809-9 Li Zhijun, Liu Haiyan, & Liu Jisheng. (2010). Imbalance Analysis of Rural Infrastructure Construction in China. Scientia Geographica Sinica, (06): 839-846. https://doi.org/10.13249/j.cnki.sgs.2010.06.839 Lin Bao. (2020). Difficulties and Priorities of Digital Poverty Governance for the Elderly. People's Forum, (29):3. Liu Yi & Li Xiaona. (2022). How can the digital divide of the elderly be crossed in the digital age?. Southeast Academic, (05):105-115. http://dx.doi.org/10.13658/j.cnki.sar.2022.05.020. Lu Jiehua & Wei Xiaodan. (2021). Analytical Framework, Concept and Path Selection of Digital Divide Governance for the Elderly: Based on the Perspective of Digital Divide and Knowledge Gap Theory. Population Research, (03):17-30. María Rosalía Vicente Ana Jesús López.(2010).Assessing the regional digital divide across the European Union-27. Telecommunications Policy ,(3):220-237. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2010.12.013 Nadine Mumporeze & Michael Prieler. (2017). Gender digital divide in Rwanda: A qualitative analysis of socioeconomic factors. Telematics and Informatics, (7):1285-1293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2017.05.014 Ogburn. (1989). Social Change: On Culture and Innate Nature. Zhejiang People's Publishing House. Ren Hang, Jia Feiran, Zhang Xingyu. (2022). The "triple dilemma" of digital integration of the elderly group from the perspective of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and its response path. News Spring and Autumn, (05):38-45. Peng H. (2007). Social Exclusion in the Welfare Triangle: An Empirical Study on New Poverty Communities in Chinese Cities. Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House. Rene Lenoir. (1974). Les Exclus,un Francais sur Dix. Paris: Les Editions du Seuil. Riggins, F. J. & Dewan, S. (2008).The Digital Divide: Current and Future Research Directions. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 6(12):4. http://aisel.aisnet.org/jais/vol6/iss12/4 Robles, J. M., Torres-Albero, C., & De Marco, S. (2011). Spanish E-government and the third digital divide: A sociological view. Journal of US-China Public Administration, 8(4), 401-412. Singh, S. & Singh Uma Shankar Nermend Malgorzata.(2022).Sustainability in a Digitized Era Analyzing the Moderation Effect of Social Strata and Digital Capital Dependence on Digital Divide. Sustainability, (21):14508-14508. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114508 Song Yu, Qian Chenfei & Pickard Susan.(2021).Age-Related Digital Divide during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, (21):11285-11285. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111285. Spanakis, P., Peckham, E., Mathers, A., Shiers, D., & Gilbody, S. (2021). The digital divide: Amplifying health inequalities for people with severe mental illness in the time of COVID-19. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 219 (4), 529-531. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2021.56. Szeles M. R.(2018).New insights from a multilevel approach to the regional digital divide in the European Union. Telecommunications Policy, (6):452-463. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2018.03.007 Wang C. Z. , Peng X. B. & Peng Y. (2020). Attention Evolution of Big Data Governance Policies of Local Government— Based on Grounded Theory and Social Network. Journal of Intelligence, (12): 111-118. http://10.3969 / J.issn.1002－1965.2020.12.017 Wang, Bo & Dong Hao. (2023). Research on the farmers’ agricultural digital service use behavior under the rural revitalization strat-egy-based on the extended technology acceptance model. Frontiers. Environmental. Science, (11):1180072. https://10.3389/fenvs.2023.1180072 Wilson, K. R. , Wallin, J. S. , & Reiser, C. . (2003). Social stratification and the digital divide. Social Science Computer Review, (2):133-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0894439303021002001 Xu Qian. (2022). Analyzing the Root Causes of the Aging Digital Divide and Constructing a Digital Inclusive Society. Journal of Hohai University (Philosophy and Social Science), (02):94-101+112. http://dx.doi.org/10.3876/j.issn.1671.4970.2022.02.013 Xu Qinghong. (2017). Digital Inequality: A Review of Research on Social Class and Internet Use. University Library Work, (05):16-20. Yang Juhua & Liu Yifeng. (2022). Longevity Dividend in the Digital Age: Feasible Capabilities and Endogenous Motivation in the Digital Life of the Elderly. Administrative Reform, (01):26-36. http://dx.doi.org/10.14150/j.cnki.1674-7453.2022.01.004 Yang Yifan, Pan Junhao. (2021). The dilemma of digital integration of the elderly and its coping path. Journalism and Writing, (03):22-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1002-2295.2021.03.005 Zhang Guanghui, Li Jiuling. (2023). Digital economy, rural labor employment and common prosperity of farmers and rural areas. Study＆Exploration, (12):90-98. https://10.3969/j.issn.1002-462X.2023.12.012 Zheng N., Chen Y. (2024). Research on Digital Poverty and Its Governance Among Rural Elderly Population. Modern Economic Research, 513 (09): 111-122. DOI: https://10.13891/j.cnki.mer.2024.09.007. Zhou Xianghong. (2016). From the Digital Divide to Digital Poverty: Basic Concepts and Research Framework. Xuehai, (04):154-157. https://doi.org/10.16091/j.cnki.cn32-1308/c.2016.04.023 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 17 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 12 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 09 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 06 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 06 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 06 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 18 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 18 Mar, 2026 Editor invited by journal 18 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 13 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 12 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8841761","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":610146169,"identity":"a52ede34-67b4-43ad-a091-aedd7fbb1a21","order_by":0,"name":"Nana Zheng","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Hohai University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nana","middleName":"","lastName":"Zheng","suffix":""},{"id":610146170,"identity":"4c035cd3-ab89-42db-b2b9-97dbd9370b86","order_by":1,"name":"Shuqi Ye","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA2UlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACxgYGgwMJBhI8/OzNBw58+EGslg8FFnKSPccSD87sIc4iA8YZHyqMDW7kGB/mYCNCPXN788bDPAYSiQ0Hcj4cZuBhkOcXO0DAYT3HCsBaGhvObjhcYMFgOHN2AgEtM3IMwFqaGXs3HJ7Bw5BgcJuQlvlvIFramHkeHOZhI0bLDB6DgzMMJIx52HgYiNTSk1Zw4IOBhJwED5sBMJAlCPvFsP3w5g8Jf+p47O8/fvzhww8beX5pQloaUPkS+JWDgDxhJaNgFIyCUTDiAQDySUrdWAjwfQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Shuqi","middleName":"","lastName":"Ye","suffix":""},{"id":610146171,"identity":"bf353b41-c25a-443e-b56f-90310ff5af52","order_by":2,"name":"Shengcong Wang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Nanjing University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Shengcong","middleName":"","lastName":"Wang","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-10 13:53:27","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8841761/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8841761/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":105268382,"identity":"c6ad5661-4688-4dc6-b5a9-057f4ade83ef","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-24 08:04:16","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":255361,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eTheoretical framework\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8841761/v1/c1e093eeebdfd94ef4bb80dd.png"},{"id":105564742,"identity":"72573519-b436-4b94-9793-8add7e909a09","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 12:50:43","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1209740,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8841761/v1/4b2d44d5-2171-4d7a-8730-79992993af85.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"The digital divide among the elderly in rural China: generation mechanism and governance approaches","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn the 21st century, the dual trends of digital technology and an aging population are accelerating the transformation of social structures globally (Li et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). In vulnerable rural areas, this transformation may exacerbate the digital divide among the elderly (Levy et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e).The \"52nd Statistical Report on Internet Development in China\" indicates that while China's internet user scale has reached 1.079\u0026nbsp;billion, with a penetration rate of 76.4%, a significant number of elderly in rural areas remain non-users (China Internet Network Information Center, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). This implies that they are unable to enjoy the benefits of digital technology and are increasingly marginalized as digital outsiders in modern society. Concurrently, the digital divide indirectly impedes the progress of digital governance in rural communities. Neglecting the digital divide among this group could intensify the inequalities brought about by technological development, widening the gap between different groups and creating a \"Matthew Effect\" of digital poverty (Hannan and Eynon, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIt is widely recognized that assisting the elderly in overcoming the digital divide and breaking down barriers between the elderly and digital society is an urgent need in actively addressing global population aging (Yang \u0026amp; Liu, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). However, with this acknowledged, there have been precious few advances in our understanding of this issue. This study aims to contribute positively by addressing this gap in the existing studies. More specifically, it seeks to explore three key questions: First, what has caused the emergence of the digital divide among the elderly population in rural China; Second, in what ways are rural Chinese seniors encountering difficulties with digital integration; Finally, how can the digital divide for the elderly group in rural China be governanced. To address these questions, a social-exclusion analytical framework was constructed from empirical data collected in Ding Village, Nanjing City, and was situated within the existing literature. The expected results of this study may provide an in-depth analysis of the multidimensional challenges faced by the rural elderly in the digital process from a micro perspective, while constructing actionable approaches to governance the digital divide based on empirical analysis.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Literature Review","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn light of the unique focus of this study, a brief literature review will be conducted on the digital divide among the rural elderly in rural China, including both Chinese local researches and international researches.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.1 Digital Divide\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe revolution in information technology is considered another significant event affecting human civilization, symbolizing freedom and equality. However, as some critics have it, the history of new technological development is also one of deepening social stratification and inequality (Gunkel, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2003\u003c/span\u003e; Eubanks, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Galperin et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). Since the 21st century, the rise of the internet has inevitably led to digital inequality among various groups in modern society (Xu, 2017), resulting in a digital divide. The concept of the digital divide originated from the 1991 book \"Power Shift: Knowledge, Wealth, and Violence at the Edge of the 21st Century\" by American scholar Alvin Toffler. Toffler defined the digital divide as \"the gap in the ability to apply information networks on a macro level between different countries, regions, and industries\" (Toffler, 2006).Prior to this, academia used more general concepts such as information inequality, information gap, knowledge gap, computer literacy, or media literacy. Specifically, the digital divide is mainly divided into the first (Riggins \u0026amp; Dewan, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e), second (DiMaggio et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e), and third divides (Robles et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e), namely, the \"access gap\", \"usage gap\", and \"knowledge gap\". The access gap involves issues of digital infrastructure and technology accessibility, the usage gap faces challenges in the application of digital technology and information acquisition, and the knowledge gap highlights the elderly's insufficient information literacy and limited ability to use information technology. Studies have shown that even after the first access gap is popularized, the second and third gaps will still expand (Deursen \u0026amp; Dijk, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2 Digital Divide Among the Rural Elderly\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe digital divide among the elderly is a recognized phenomenon (Demoussis \u0026amp; Giannakopoulos, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e). Academic research on this topic has examined two levels: endogenous attributes and external environments. In terms of endogenous attributes, factors such as limited education (Mar\u0026iacute;a, 2010; Wilson et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2003\u003c/span\u003e), declining cognitive abilities, distrust in technology security, and weak adaptability to digital life lead the elderly into the digital divide (Lin, 2020; Zhou, 2016). In terms of external environments, impacts such as the COVID-19 pandemic (Song et al., 2021; Spanakis et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e), lack of economic strength (Cruz-Jesus et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e), absence of social connections, insufficient application of aging adaptations, the existence of gender stereotypes (Nadine \u0026amp; Michael, 2017), and the lack of aging design in smart devices and digital products hinder the elderly from integrating into digital society (Lu \u0026amp; Wei, 2021; Xu, 2022). Additionally, from the perspective of sustainable development in the digital age, social class and reliance on digital capital also play a regulatory role in the digital divide (Singh et al., 2022). Gunasekaran et al. identified three main factors affecting the bridging of the digital divide: accessibility, usability, and the affordability of services and applications (Gunasekaran et al., 2006). How to effectively address the digital divide among the rural elderly has also been discussed to a certain extent in academia: Szeles used a multi-level analysis (three-level random slope model) to analyze the regional and national determinants of the digital divide in the EU region, suggesting that only a combination of effective regional and national measures can alleviate the regional digital divide in the EU (Szeles, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). At the regional and national levels, measures such as stimulating regional economic growth, improving higher education qualifications, increasing R\u0026amp;D expenditure, and preventing early school leaving can bridge the digital divide in the EU region. For society, this means cultural feedback and re-education, as well as digital feedback based on the family (An and Wang, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e); for businesses, it involves actively adjusting technology to enhance the aging adaptation of smart products and providing accessible digital services for the elderly (Liu et al., 2022); for the government, strengthening the digital rights of the elderly, clarifying public responsibilities, constructing a new industrial ecology, and improving governance mechanisms can bridge the digital divide (Yang \u0026amp; Pan, 2021); for the elderly themselves, it is necessary to focus on the value logic of the elderly obtaining digital resources, actively integrating into digital society, and improving digital information literacy to achieve self-improvement in digital society.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3 Informationization construction in Rural China\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eRural infrastructure construction is a fundamental need to ensure the production and life in rural areas. It also holds significant importance for the expansion of living space, resource sharing, and the optimization of the living environment for rural residents in China. Since the proposal of the rural revitalization strategy, the Chinese government has accelerated the construction of digital infrastructure in rural areas (Wang et al, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). By reviewing the existing literature, it is found that the current infrastructure construction in rural China is characterized by three typical characteristics: (1) High participation of technology enterprises. The government guides technology enterprises to direct the deployment of digital infrastructure to rural areas through incentive policies or government purchase of services (Zhang \u0026amp; Li, 2023). (2) A multi-level infrastructure network is gradually taking shape. The central government has set up special funds for digital villages, local governments have established digital infrastructure project departments through the PPP model, and each village has implemented specific digital infrastructure projects, forming a multi-level digital infrastructure network (Jean, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). (3) Bidirectional adjustment between digital technology and the rural social ecosystem. The popularization of digital technology facilities in rural areas has, to a certain extent, restructured rural production relations (Guo et al, 2023), while local knowledge has also fed back to innovate the application paradigms of digital technology, forming a special path of technology socialization (Chen, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIt is also worth noting that some studies have pointed out that the current digital infrastructure construction in rural China still neglects some practical issues. For instance, China's infrastructure investment shows a significant regional imbalance, with the eastern provinces receiving far more investment than the western ones, and the western mountainous areas have hardly initiated any substantial projects (Li, et al., 2010). Due to the government or enterprises' neglect of training villagers, villagers, lacking digital literacy, are unable to effectively utilize digital tools, leading to many digital infrastructure projects being abandoned after completion in villages (Wang \u0026amp; Dong, 2023). Moreover, the potential service targets of most rural digital infrastructure are middle-aged and young people, with a lack of attention to the elderly group (Kuang \u0026amp; Wu, 2025). These issues await further research and practice from the academic community.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.4 Key Insights\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eExisting studies have conducted research in several areas including network and rural development, elderly internet usage, and the digital divide among the elderly population, and have achieved certain results. There are also studies that explore the issue of the digital divide among the elderly, analyzing it from aspects such as causes, impacts, and current situations, and providing suggestions and approaches for the elderly to overcome the digital divide. This can provide a large amount of reference basis and theoretical foundation for this article. However, the existing research still has some shortcomings: First, it ignores the structural background and conditions of the digital divide among rural elderly. The digital divide should be placed within the specific context of rural society in order to more comprehensively grasp the generation logic of the digital divide among rural elderly groups. Second, the existing research mainly focuses on the use of the Internet by the entire elderly population or urban elderly groups. The survey methods adopted are mostly data surveys, that is, an overall and objective investigation through data. There is relatively low attention to rural elderly groups, and there is less qualitative research on the adaptation of rural elderly groups to the digital society. This study uses social exclusion theory as the theoretical framework to specifically analyze the current situation and generation logic of the digital divide faced by the rural elderly in the digital society, and proposes targeted strategies.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3. Theoretical Framework","content":"\u003cp\u003eSocial exclusion theory constitutes a fundamental theoretical framework for digital divide research. Compared to alternative theories, it demonstrates unique interpretive power in analyzing the digital divide. First, the theory provides profound theoretical grounding for identifying and understanding the digital divide, conceptualizing it as a manifestation of social exclusion in the digital era. This perspective transcends mere technical access disparities, revealing structural social barriers underlying digital technology use\u0026mdash;including unequal distribution of economic, cultural, and social capital\u0026mdash;that disadvantage certain groups in digitalization processes. Second, social exclusion theory emphasizes the dynamic and cumulative nature of social inequality, arguing that the digital divide reflects institutional arrangements and social structures rather than merely individual capability deficits. Finally, it offers targeted guidance for developing inclusive policies, advocating for governmental intervention and social support to reduce digital exclusion while promoting pluralistic integration and social justice. Such policy orientation focuses not only on expanding technical infrastructure but fundamentally addresses participation barriers, thereby mitigating social fragmentation caused by the digital divide.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe concept of social exclusion was pioneered by French scholar Ren\u0026eacute; Lenoir, who theorized that individuals or communities become marginalized when deprived of essential social resources, leading to disconnection from societal mainstream (Lenoir, 1974). Social exclusion typically results from multidimensional factors\u0026mdash;political, economic, cultural, and technological\u0026mdash;better characterized through qualitative description than quantitative measurement (Pierson, 1999). Crucially, social exclusion encompasses not only material deprivation but also limited participation in socio-economic, political, and cultural spheres, coupled with alienation from dominant social norms (Duffy, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1998\u003c/span\u003e). Empirical applications thus require contextualization within specific socio-ecological environments (Creswel, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e). In China's scholarly discourse, Peng Hua-min's taxonomy of social exclusion has gained wide acceptance (Fang, 2020; Chen \u0026amp; Liu, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). She categorizes exclusion into six dimensions: personal, economic, institutional, cultural, technological, and social, with real-world cases often involving multiple coexisting types (Peng, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e). Building upon this framework, our study develops an integrated theoretical model to analyze digital divides among rural elderly populations, concluding with evidence-based policy recommendations.The theoretical framework is illustrated in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFigure \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e \u003cb\u003eis about here.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4. Research Methods and Data Sources","content":"\u003cp\u003eCurrently, the most widespread tool for digital integration is the smartphone, which is also the most frequently used communication device among rural elderly in China. According to the \"China Internet Development Statistical Report,\" by 2024, the ownership rate of smartphones among rural elderly people has reached 80%, ranking first among all digital product ownership rates, and the internet penetration rate in rural areas has reached 66%. This study operationalizes \"digital integration\" as \"the use of smartphones,\" a process that is also recognized by other academic researchers (Kuang, 2022; He et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Considering the differences in the subjective understanding and cooperation of the interviewees, the specific survey method mainly uses semi-structured interviews combined with participatory observation by the researcher.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe research location of this study is Ding Village, which located in Nanjing City. The Ding Village had a registered population of 2632 people, among which there are about 705 elderly people over 60 years old. The choice of the Ding Village as the research location is based on the principle of convenient sampling. The researchers all work and live in Nanjing City, are familiar with the social customs of Nanjing, and are also familiar with the current situation of rural elderly people. In addition, as typical rural residential areas for elderly people in Nanjing City, the Ding Village is conducive to researchers observing and collecting rich interview data. The researchers first selected elderly people over 60 years old in the village as the sampling target, and then randomly selected a total of 212 elderly people (accounting for 30% of the elderly population in the village) as the interview targets. The specific interview method is semi-structured, and 125 elderly people agreed to participate in this study. After the interview, researchers organized, summarized, and coded the interview materials. First, the original text of the material was conceptualized, and then it was coded through open coding, axial coding, and selective coding in three stages.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5. The Causes of the Digital Divide","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study used open coding to form 9 preliminary categories, then summarized them into 7 main categories through axial coding, and finally formed 3 core categories through selective coding. That is the rural elderly mainly face difficulties in three aspects: device integration, emotional integration, and social integration, as shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThree-level coding scale for the current situation of the digital divide of rural Chinese elderly\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCore Scope\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMain Scope\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInitial Scope\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eConceptualization\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOriginal source text\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBarriers to Device Integration\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSmart Device Function Utilization Difficulty\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLimited to Basic Communication Functions\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo use\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI only use my senior citizen cell phone to make and receive calls, nothing else.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eActive Refusal to Use\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo demand\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI don't want to get a cell phone, and I don't contact anyone enough to use it.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNetwork Connection \u0026amp; Quality Difficulty\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsing someone else's network\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsing someone else's network\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI'm using my neighbor's internet, and it's very convenient.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor Network Stability\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNetwork lag\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBrush the video for a long time, will not show up, and sometimes WeChat can not send it out, I do not have the patience to wait so open the flow, but it is very expensive, and I can not afford to.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDilemma of Emotional Integration\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGenerational divide\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDifficulty Understanding Youth Digital Expressions\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo understanding\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSometimes I read the circle of friends sent by the children and talk to them, but I don't understand what they want to express.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWeak Social Connectivity Among Elderly\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNarrow Offline Social Circles \u0026amp; Lack of Digital Interaction\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo friends to contact\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI don't have any contact with my old classmates anymore, except for my family, there is no one I can contact.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChallenges in Social Integration\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLack of Offline Digital Support\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEncountering Impatience When Seeking Help\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eImpatience of others\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis year, when I paid for my medical insurance, I changed to pay it on my cell phone, but I didn't know how to do it, so I found a young man to help me and he was still impatient.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOnline Service/Product Supply Bias\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLack of Age-Friendly Products/Services\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNeeds ignored\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI want to try online shopping, but I found that there are very few advertisements for people of my age.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStigmatized Elderly Image in Cyberspace\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExposure to Negative Online Remarks \u0026amp; Labeling\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInappropriate remarks by others\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSome of the inappropriate comments in the TikTok APP directed at older people make me very angry.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e \u003cb\u003eis about here.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e5.1 Barriers to Device Integration\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eRural elderly populations, as key actors in the digital era, face a dual challenge in the access gap: low ownership rates of smart devices and insufficient wireless network coverage.Regarding smart device ownership and usage, influenced by both economic constraints and functional needs, rural seniors weigh the cost and utility when purchasing and using smartphones. Some elderly villagers, unable to continue farming due to physical limitations, lack income sources and cannot afford smartphones or data plans. Simultaneously, residing in close-knit communities where daily social interactions and affairs are predominantly conducted through face-to-face contact, their functional demand for smartphones remains relatively low.Another segment opts for basic feature phones (\"elderly phones\") due to unfamiliarity with smartphones. These devices better align with seniors' practical needs through larger fonts, simplified interfaces, and lower costs compared to smartphones. Consequently, feature phones remain prevalent among this demographic.Secondly, rural elders' attitudes toward wireless network access generally mirror their stance on smartphone usage. Since smartphones typically rely on Wi-Fi connectivity, some seniors forgo smartphone adoption due to concerns about data plan expenses. Others resort to free-riding on others' networks\u0026mdash;an informal access pattern reflecting the passive nature of their internet engagement.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCollectively, the knowledge base of rural seniors struggles to adapt to rapidly evolving digital technologies. Compounded by declining physiological capacities (e.g., vision, hearing), suboptimal user experiences, and limited economic resources, these internal and external factors result in depressed adoption rates for both smart devices and wireless networks. This creates structural barriers at the device-integration level, ultimately constraining this group's right to equal participation in the digital society.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e5.2 Dilemma of Emotional Integration\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eOgburn proposed the concept of cultural lag in his book \"Social Change: The Culture and Nature of Man.\" Its manifestations mainly include the external identity changing faster than the improvement of internal quality, the external environment changing faster than the speed of psychological adaptation, and objective institutional settings changing faster than the establishment of subjective consciousness (Ogburn, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1989\u003c/span\u003e). Although a small part of the rural elderly group has access to smart devices, due to their own lack of corresponding digital technology and operational experience, they can only use the basic functions of smartphones, such as making phone calls and taking photos. On the other hand, the first way for most elderly people to obtain information is still traditional media (Ren et al., 2022), As some left-behind elderly explained, they avoid mobile payment systems due to illiteracy, poor memory, and perceived complexity: \"Handing cash directly is simpler than scanning payment QR codes.\" Furthermore, constrained by unreliable wireless coverage and connectivity issues, the effectiveness of smart devices remains suboptimal, diminishing their practical utility. Even those who acquire devices and basic skills struggle to fulfill emotional needs through digital channels, lacking peer support networks for digital engagement and facing intergenerational cognitive divides.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConfronted with rapid technological evolution amidst cultural lag, adaptation capabilities reveal stark intergenerational disparities. While younger generations require considerable time to adapt, older adults face daunting challenges. The intergenerational divide manifests distinctly in: information acquisition preferences, content-filtering capacities, information-processing abilities. These divergences, intensified by individual and environmental factors, ultimately exacerbate the intergenerational digital divide in contemporary digital societies.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e5.3 Challenges in Social Integration\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAt the digital literacy gap level, three primary dimensions emerge: social exclusion, media exclusion, and stigmatizing labels. First, social exclusion manifests predominantly through younger generations' attitudes toward the elderly. This exclusion reflects systemic neglect of rural seniors at the societal level. Younger individuals' impatience during digital interactions epitomizes the longstanding disregard and implicit discrimination against older populations. Second, media exclusion in the digital ecosystem. Internet enterprises routinely overlook the market potential of the silver economy during technology R\u0026amp;D and product design. The absence of age-specific accommodations creates inherent age-based barriers in digital products, resulting in implicit exclusion of rural elders. Some left-behind elderly experience depression after financial losses from mobile investments, while others develop unnecessary anxiety due to inability to discern online misinformation. When unable to utilize smartphones or digital tools appropriately, these technologies may inversely damage seniors' physical and mental wellbeing. Third, societal stigmatization. Stereotypes such as \"frail and sickly,\" \"moral failings in old age,\" and \"clinging to traditions\" not only perpetuate public prejudice but also marginalize rural elders within digital society.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe access gap and usage gap collectively diminish rural seniors' technical proficiency with smart devices, subsequently creating hierarchical disparities in digital literacy and cognitive capacities. Compounded by pre-existing stigmatization, systemic social exclusion, and structural media exclusion, these factors generate a compound effect that severely impedes this group's social integration.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"6. The Generation Mechanism of the Digital Divide","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe digital divide among the elderly population is mainly influenced by both micro and macro factors from the perspective of social exclusion. At the macro level, the factors causing social exclusion are often structural, institutional, and systemic in nature. At the micro level, the factors that lead to social exclusion include disadvantaged regions and the people residing in them. External objective factors and internal physiological and psychological subjective factors are the comprehensive reasons for the digital divide among the elderly. The researchers conceptualizes the interview materials and then codes them level by level. Through open coding, 21 preliminary categories were formed, then summarized into 11 main categories through axial coding, and finally formed 5 core categories through selective coding. The specific process is shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThree-level coding scale for the generative logic of the digital divide for rural Chinese elderly\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCore Scope\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMain Scope\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInitial Scope\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eConceptualization\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOriginal source text\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePersonal Exclusion\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePhysiological factors\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePhysiological deterioration\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDimmed eyesight\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMy eyes are not good, I have to wear presbyopic to see clearly, and I am tired of watching for a while, so I don't want to watch anymore.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiminished Motivation from Senior Self-Identity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOld\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI'm old, and unlike the young, it's useless to learn all that new stuff.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePsychological factors\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh perceived risk\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDefensive\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI'm afraid of being scammed, so I don't dare to touch my cell phone.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAttempt Reluctance from Self-Deprecation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLow self-esteem\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIt is said that the elderly are stupid, I also think I am too stupid, so I can not learn to use a smartphone.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEconomic exclusion\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEconomic cost factors\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnaffordable Device Cost\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLimitations of personal economic level\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI can't afford to buy a smartphone because it's so expensive.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSkill Acquisition Barrier from Time Scarcity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTime-consuming and laborious\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI don't have the time or the energy to re-learn all that.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInstitutional exclusion\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInstitutional Safeguard Gap\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLegal Vacuum in Elderly Digital Rights\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLack of relevant laws and regulations\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo one pays attention to us, let alone has any laws to protect our rights.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAmbiguous Accountability in Grassroots Governance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnclear responsibility\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI can't tell which departments in the township government are responsible for what.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFunctional Disorder\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsage Exclusion from Forced Digitization\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChange of public service model\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI couldn't find a specific place to pay for my health insurance, but when I asked, I found out that I had to pay by cell phone.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTechnical exclusion\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTechnology platform factors\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTechnological convenience\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eComplicated operation procedures\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe mobile app is too complicated. One might accidentally click the wrong option. Last time I clicked wrongly and ended up placing an order for something, but there was no such thing as (return and cover shipping cost) insurance. It was all a hassle.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsefulness of technology\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLow demand for smart devices\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eApart from making phone calls to my children and watching some videos when I have spare time, I don't do anything else and I also don't make purchases on my phone.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLimited technology\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSingle mode function\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThey say that the care mode is good, except for the larger characters, I feel that there is no other difference.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInformation factors\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCognitive Distraction from Multi-platform Fragmentation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInformation distribution decentralization\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhich (APP) is on the top of the message, I will go to WeChat, Shake Voice, Beauty, and Himalaya every day to read the message.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInformation overload\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMuch information\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIf you don't check (the push notifications from the WeChat official account) for a day, you'll see many little red dots (unread messages) popping up. There are too many messages from platforms like Tencent News, WeChat Sports, WeChat Groups, etc.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"6\" rowspan=\"7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSocial exclusion\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFamily factor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLack of intergenerational feedback\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLittle intergenerational interaction\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe children are too busy to patiently teach me how to use it.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEducational factors\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLiteracy Deficiency Hindering Basic Operation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLiteracy limitations\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI only went to school for two years, and I don't know any words, so I can't even use a senior citizen's cell phone, let alone a smartphone.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSocial service factors\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnsustainable Passive Instruction\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrong passivity in learning\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSometimes there would be someone (a community worker) who would come specifically to teach, but that was their job. They taught and then left, not being with you all the time, which made me still not quite understand.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eScarcity of Elderly-focused Digital Education\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInsufficient social services\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI haven't seen anyone teaching the elderly how to use a cell phone.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEnvironmental factors\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnderdeveloped Digital Infrastructure in Villages\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInadequate infrastructure\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe infrastructure in the countryside is not as good as that in the city.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTraditional Recreation Diverting Digital Demand\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMore choices of entertainment\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI can listen to a play or watch TV when I'm free, I don't have to have a cell phone to be entertained.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTechnology Apathy Contagion Among Peers\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNegative attitude\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the village, there are only a few people of my age who can use smartphones. You can count them on one hand.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e \u003cb\u003eis about here.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e6.1 Personal Exclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor the elderly population in rural areas, apart from the demographic and sociological characteristics that they cannot change themselves, their level of cognition and acceptance of digital products also play a crucial role in determining the role of information technology in the minds of the elderly individuals. The highly digitalized scenario configuration deprives the disconnected and relatively disconnected individuals of the right to enjoy the same quality of social life as the well-adjusted individuals.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOn one hand, the digital divide faced by the elderly population in integrating into the digital society mainly stems from their insufficient understanding of digital technology. When rural elders first come into contact with digital information technology, they may think that learning new things is unnecessary. They are accustomed to their original way of life and are not concerned about the rapid iteration of digital technologies from the outside world. Some elders are afraid that they will damage their smartphones if they do not operate the steps correctly, some elders are worried that asking young people how to use a smartphone will cause them trouble, some elders are afraid that online scammers will cheat them of money, and some elders develop learned helplessness due to not receiving help from others repeatedly, so they feel frustrated about using digital information technology. For those who are disconnected, that is, elderly individuals who have not yet integrated into the digital society, their long-term hard work and the lack of timely and advanced medical services have led to a low level of health, resulting in digital adaptation failure, and when they attempt to integrate into the digital society, they encounter repeated setbacks or develop a \"digital exclusion\" mentality after realizing the lack of channels for acquiring the skills to integrate.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOn the other hand, the digital literacy of rural elderly people is insufficient. Digital literacy encompasses the various qualities and abilities that citizens in the digital society need in learning, working, and living, such as digital acquisition, production, application, evaluation, interaction, sharing, innovation, security protection, and ethics and morality. Most rural elders have not received good education, and some have never left the countryside throughout their lives. They cannot recognize Chinese characters and pinyin letters, cannot speak Mandarin, let alone understand professional terms in digital information technology. Even if they can search for information through mainstream search engines like Baidu, they are hindered by a large amount of useless or indistinguishable information. A series of obstacles caused by the low cultural level of rural elders ultimately force rural elders to increasingly disconnect from the intelligent era and be excluded from digital life.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e6.2 Economic Exclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eOne important aspect of the digital divide among rural elderly people is economic exclusion. The economic income of rural elderly people mainly consists of three parts: the money earned through their own labor, government subsidies, and alimony given by their children. As the elderly age, some lose their ability to work and have less income. Only a few elderly people can afford to spend on digital products and services. During interviews, some elderly people said, \"A smart phone costs several thousand yuan. We can't afford it. It's all bought by our children.\" Others believed, \"Once you leave home, you can no longer use the internet at home and need to purchase additional data. Just the internet at home costs several hundred yuan a year. If you want to use data, it seems that you need an extra ten yuan. Plus the miscellaneous fees on the phone, you need to pay them all.\" With the increasingly improved protection measures for network copyrights, digital payment has become a basic cost for online space operation. Although some platforms, content, and resources do not require additional payment in name, they still need to bear additional costs such as communication fees, time costs, etc. The economic cost of the digital society has an inherent characteristic of being compulsory and continuous. It is difficult for individual choices to change the basic nature of the confrontation. In contrast, the income sources of the elderly population are very limited, and intergenerational economic support is relatively weak. Retirement income and social security subsidies are even insufficient to support them in bearing the cost of digital integration, which makes the elderly population have to bear the risk of rising economic costs.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e6.3 Institutional Exclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe level and attitude of the government's digital governance are crucial for the digital rights of rural elderly groups, as well as for their pursuit of a good digital life and their aspiration for a good digital society. However, in the actual government digital governance work, there are certain problems such as incomplete institutional mechanisms and limited government governance capabilities.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFirstly, the institutional mechanisms are incomplete and the government's digital governance level is limited. One issue is that the regulatory laws and regulations are lagging behind. The development speed of the digital society is fast, and the regulatory laws and regulations may lag behind technological development, resulting in insufficient and ineffective supervision. The capacity of regulatory agencies is insufficient. Some regulatory agencies may lack professional knowledge and technical capabilities in the digital society, making it difficult to effectively supervise the safety of digital products and services. Another issue is that the regulatory scope is unclear. In the digital society, multiple departments and institutions are involved in supervision, and an unclear regulatory scope may lead to regulatory loopholes and blind spots.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSecondly, in the digital age, public services blindly pursue digitization and paperlessness, without fully considering whether the elderly can adapt to such changes. This \"one-size-fits-all\" approach not only causes inconvenience in the daily lives of the elderly but also gradually marginalizes them and excludes them from new technologies. Moreover, the government's provision of educational training in digital information technology for rural elderly is rather lacking. In some regions, the government distributes digital devices such as smart wristbands to the elderly in urban communities and offers them for free trial use. However, rural elderly do not receive the aforementioned economic subsidies from the government for accessing network services and purchasing digital devices. The solution to the digital integration dilemma of rural elderly groups often requires the collaborative efforts of multiple functional departments, but the existing hierarchical governance structure limits the governance work to a single functional department, which can easily lead to each department acting independently and shirking responsibility. The insufficient policy response fails to focus on the real digital needs of rural elderly groups, and also goes against the original intention of digital governance in the context of active aging.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec17\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e6.4 Technological Exclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe digital divide faced by the elderly when integrating into the digital society mainly stems from technical factors of digital products. Internet enterprises mostly operate based on corporate interests, without considering the actual situation of the elderly population. Instead, they target relatively younger groups as their main target audience when launching digital products. Firstly, the technical complexity is a major issue. Currently, most smart devices have complex operation procedures, small font sizes on the pages, and high screen brightness, making it difficult for the elderly to understand and operate new technologies and digital products. They are prone to making mistakes or improper settings during use. Secondly, there are false information issues. Some digital products may have security vulnerabilities and insufficient security, making them vulnerable to hacker attacks and data leakage. Elderly people are more likely to suffer from online fraud and information leakage risks when using these digital products. Thirdly, the design of digital products does not meet the needs of the elderly. Many digital products do not take into account the special needs of the elderly, such as small fonts, unclear colors, and complex operation methods, causing difficulties and inconvenience for the elderly when using digital products. The update and replacement of digital products are becoming faster and their operation steps are increasing, making the process of adapting and integrating into digital life for rural elderly people more challenging.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSecondly, smart devices have strong substitutability for rural elderly people and lack sufficient appeal. The existing features of smart products ignore the habits of the elderly. Such product design reduces the self-efficacy of elderly users. Therefore, in most cases, these digital devices often make elderly people feel frustrated and reluctant to use them, to a certain extent, reducing their desire to purchase.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinally, although the adaptation of APPs for the elderly is in full swing, the \"care features\" only perform superficial work and fail to match the physiological functions and psychological feelings of elderly people's operation of intelligent devices, that is, they do not achieve comprehensive and multi-level \"adapting to the elderly\" transformation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec18\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e6.5 Social Exclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe absence of digital feedback, insufficient supply of social service resources, and the influence of the social environment have all brought certain deficiencies to the digital support network of society, causing a loss of focus on the issues of digital integration by the society. On one hand, there is a lack of digital feedback. The support and assistance from family members play a direct role in solving the problem of digital integration for the elderly. In terms of purchasing new digital devices, accessing new digital products, and solving the problems and difficulties encountered, family opinions will be the main reference basis for the elderly group. However, in reality, the phenomenon of inadequate digital feedback is very obvious. From the perspective of children, the understanding of the elderly group's digital integration is not in place, the traditional elderly care concept has a deep stereotype, and there is not enough patience and correct methods. Some elderly people mentioned, \"My son is always busy with work, and he has little time to come back, so there is no time to care about my problems on the internet.\" Some elderly people will actively reduce the purchase volume of digital products and conceal their own demands.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOn the other hand, there is a lack of digital education in rural communities. This deficiency mainly lies in the scarcity of educational resources, the lack of digital educational resources for the elderly in the community, or the course settings not being close to the actual needs of the elderly, lacking flexibility and individualization, and not achieving the desired effect. Moreover, the traditional educational methods are often more suitable for young people, such as fast pace and large amount of information input, which may be too abstract or difficult for the elderly to understand. The speed and method of elderly people learning new skills are different from those of young people, but the existing digital education lacks personalized guidance and support, which cannot meet the learning needs of the elderly. Therefore, providing suitable digital risk education courses and resources for the elderly group, adopting teaching methods closer to the learning characteristics of the elderly, and providing personalized guidance and support will help the elderly group integrate into the digital society.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"7. Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study reveals that the issue of digital social exclusion among rural elderly groups not only relates to the digital capabilities of the elderly themselves, but also involves multiple levels such as policy formulation and implementation, community services, family development, and self-awareness. Based on the above findings, the following brief discussion will involve the governance approaches to the digital divide among elderly people in rural areas.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec20\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e7.1 Cultivating Endogenous Motivation among Rural Elders\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo address population aging, the international community has proposed frameworks including successful aging, healthy aging, productive aging, and active aging. The latter denotes a trajectory where seniors achieve rising levels of health, social participation, and security. Within this paradigm, aging transcends individual physiology or cohort-specific concerns, constituting a whole-population life-course issue. Participation stands as the cornerstone of active aging. Elderly, being recognized as reservoirs of untapped social capital, should be afforded opportunities to be engaged in socioeconomic, cultural, and public activities that are commensurate with their capacities. Drawing from this framework, rural elders should develop intrinsic motivation to participate\u0026mdash;however modestly\u0026mdash;in digital life. Crucially, they require not merely social integration but digital society integration, selectively embracing technologies while exercising their right to quality-of-life autonomy. Strengthening peer networks mitigates social isolation. Former classmates, coworkers, and neighbors form critical homophilic support circles for rural seniors. Shared age, interests, and life experiences enable mutual assistance in device usage, perspective-sharing, and experiential learning\u0026mdash;gradually reshaping social mindsets and behaviors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec21\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e7.2 Fulfilling Governmental Accountability\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAmid accelerating digitalization from 5G deployment to emerging 6G, governments should proactively shoulder responsibility. Leveraging new infrastructure initiatives, they should eliminate connectivity barriers for rural elders, bridging the urban-rural digital divide. Digital integration remains elective\u0026mdash;not mandatory\u0026mdash;for rural seniors. Service sectors they frequent (e.g., social security, healthcare) should retain non-digital options, respecting autonomy. Furthermore, age-adaptive legal reforms should safeguard fundamental digital rights. Clarifying rural elders' status as rights-holders requires: (1)enhanced legislation on mobile payments, online fraud, and other high-impact domains; (2)contextualized provisions promoting digital inclusion and combating digital discrimination.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec22\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e7.3 Strengthening Age-Conscious Technology Design\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eCurrent tech platforms prioritize market demands over elders' needs. A paradigm shift toward gerontocentric design is imperative. First, cultivate positive digital portrayals of rural elders. Platforms should counter sensationalist media narratives by enforcing responsible content governance. Second, intensify age-friendly adaptations for commonly used rural apps. While enriching daily life, incorporate anti-addiction features to enhance self-regulation and mental wellbeing. China's \"9073 eldercare model\" (90% home-based, 7% community-supported, 3% institutional) underscores homecare's centrality. Tech solutions should accommodate vulnerable subgroups\u0026mdash;including rural empty-nesters, disabled, cognitively impaired, and isolated seniors\u0026mdash;while addressing \"longevity risk\". Ultimately, prioritize privacy and asset security through simplified interfaces and multilayered data protection.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec23\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e7.4 Constructing Multidimensional Support Networks\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSocial support encompasses formal networks (communities, NGOs, volunteers, media) and informal networks (family, children, relatives). Formal Networks: (1)Communities: Establish permanent digital assistance mechanisms, empowering rural social workers. (2)NGOs/Volunteers: Target digital resources directly to elders via face-to-face support. (3)Media: Reconstruct dignified digital narratives of rural seniors. (4)Informal Networks:Implement digital upward reverse mentoring across three dimensions mirroring the digital divide: ①Access Mentoring: Younger generations facilitate device acquisition. ②Skills Mentoring: Youth teach practical device operation. ③Literacy Mentoring: Youth foster critical digital understanding. This intergenerational exchange simultaneously advances digital inclusion and strengthens familial bonds.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"8. Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eAt present, the digital dividends generated by the iterative development of digital technologies have not automatically transformed into public goods that all members of society can equally enjoy. Instead, under the domination of the instrumental rationality, they have been simplified into a one-dimensional governance paradigm that centers on maximizing efficiency and is underpinned by market logic. One possible consequence of this is that the digital landscape of future society is locked in advance in the current political and economic processes, and some groups are excluded from this landscape (Zheng \u0026amp; Chen, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e), facing the risk of disentanglement of their citizenship due to the lack of digital capability.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor this research, digital technology should have been a tool for inclusive development, however, in the urban-rural dual structure, it has been transformed into a new carrier of social exclusion. The rural elderly group encounters not merely a simple problem of technological adaptation, but a structural exclusion caused by the combined effects of institutional design flaws, cultural capital disconnection, and deprivation of technological rights. This exclusion manifests not only as the weakening of accessibility to public services, but also as a profound erosion of their social participation capabilities, forming a vicious cycle of \"digital disempowerment\u0026mdash;social isolation\u0026mdash;degradation of development capabilities\". In this process, the elderly group is not only the object of technological acceptance but also the subject of digital knowledge reproduction. Their experiential narratives and the standardized logic of the technological system form a creative tension.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe potential marginal contributions of this qualitative study are as follows: First, from a macro perspective based on social exclusion theory, a four-dimensional analytical framework at the micro level\u0026mdash;\"personal exclusion, economic exclusion, institutional exclusion, and technological exclusion\"\u0026mdash;is constructed to help people objectively understand the formation mechanism of the digital divide among rural elderly in China. The study finds that this analytical framework not only effectively explains the multi-source, structural, and spatial heterogeneity characteristics of the digital divide but also tests the applicability of social exclusion theory in digital society research. Second, the study introduces the concept of \"multidimensional deprivation\" from social exclusion theory, expanding the discussion of the digital divide to multiple aspects of social life, with particular attention to the implicit exclusion of rural elderly in new social contexts such as digital payments and data security. This timely addresses the gaps in current research. Third, this paper abandons the currently popular quantitative research methods in favor of a qualitative case narrative approach, attempting to provide abstract digital divide issues with perceptible concrete forms through tangible social observations and personalized experiential insights. This case-based narrative not only helps the public overcome barriers in technological cognition but also inspires empathy and reflection on social equity issues in the digital age among people with diverse knowledge backgrounds.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the future, researches on the governance of the digital divide among the elderly urgently need to break away from the single path of instrumental rationality and shift towards a more inclusive analytical framework: on the one hand, by redefining the distribution principles of digital public goods from the perspective of distributive justice, including the elderly in the entire process of technology design, data legislation, and platform governance; On the other hand, efforts should be made to transform digital technology into accumulative and quantifiable social capital, continuously deepen research under the paradigm of \"technology \u0026mdash; society\" collaborative evolution, and promote the universal access of digital civilization achievements for all ages.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":" \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eEthical approval\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003e This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013) and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by School of Public Administration, Hohai University on 15/11/2022. The approval number is 25YJCZH396. All procedures involving human participants were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Ethical approval was obtained on 15/11/2022 from School of Public Administration, Hohai University.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eInformed consent\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003e Written informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study on 01/12/2022 to 31/12/2027. Consent was obtained by trained research assistants prior to any study procedures. Participants were provided with detailed information about the study purpose, procedures, potential risks and benefits, confidentiality measures, and their right to withdraw at any time without penalty. A copy of the signed informed consent form is available for review by the Editor of this journal upon request.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eCompeting Interests\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe researchers have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccording to the CRediT statement: Shengcong Wang wrote the original draft, and Nana Zheng performed writing-review and editing. Nana Zheng and Shuqi Ye contributed to conceptualization. Shengcong Wang was responsible for data curation, formal analysis, software, supervision, and project administration (together with Nana Zheng), and investigation (together with Shuqi Ye). Shuqi Ye contributed to methodology, validation, visualization, and investigation. Nana Zheng acquired funding, provided resources, and administered the project. All authors reviewed the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe would like to thank all the editors and reviewers for their professional work, constructive comments, and valuable suggestions on this study.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSince the datasets supporting the study\u0026rsquo;s findings are not from publicly available datasets, we do not currently have the right to provide data without the consent of other researchers. Thank you for understanding.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlvin Toffler. The Transfer of Rights. Wu Yingchun, Fu Ling, Translation. Beijing: CITIC Press,2006.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn L., Wang Z. (2020). Filial Piety and Equal Rights: Cultural Feedback and Re-Nurturing in the Digital Divide: A Study on the Parent-Child Relationship between College Students and Parents on the WeChat Platform. \u003cem\u003eChina Youth Social Sciences,\u003c/em\u003e(04):111-117. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/SU142114508\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChen, H., \u0026amp; Liu, S. (2023). Housing exclusion of migrant workers: Interaction process and production mechanism. \u003cem\u003eJournal of East China University of Science and Technology (Social Science Edition),\u003c/em\u003e 38(3), 121-135. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChen Shilin. (2023). General Theory of Digital Rural Construction. Beijing: China Agriculture Press.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChina Internet Network Information Center. (2023). The 52nd Statistical Report on China\u0026rsquo;s Internet Development.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreswel J.W., (2007). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCruz-Jesus F., Oliveira T., \u0026amp; Bacao, F. (2018). The global digital divide: evidence and drivers. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Global Information Management (JGIM),\u003c/em\u003e 26(2), 1-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/JGIM.2018040101\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDemoussis M., Giannakopoulos N. A. . (2006). Facets of the digital divide in Europe: determination and extent of internet use. \u003cem\u003eEconomics of Innovation and New Technology,\u003c/em\u003e 15(3), https://doi.org/235-246.10.1080/10438590500216016\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeursen, A. J., \u0026amp; van Dijk, J. A. (2019). The first-level digital divide shifts from physical access to material access inequalities. \u003cem\u003eNew Media \u0026amp; Society,\u003c/em\u003e 21(2), 354-375. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444818797082\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiMaggio, P., Hargittai, E., Celeste, C., \u0026amp; Shafer, S. (2004). From unequal access to differentiated use: A literature review and agenda for research on digital inequality. \u003cem\u003eSocial inequality,\u003c/em\u003e 1, 355-400.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDuffy K. (1998). The Human Dignity and Social Exclusion Project-research Opportunity and Risk: Trends of Social Exclusion in Europe, Council of Europe.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEubanks V. (2018). Automating Inequality: How High-tech Tools Profile, Police, and Punish The Pool. New York: St. Martin\u0026apos;s Press.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFang Changchun. (2020). Housing for China\u0026rsquo;s urban immigrants: from the perspective of social exclusion. \u003cem\u003eSociological Study\u003c/em\u003e, (04): 58-80.https://doi.org/10.19934/j.cnki.shxyj.2020.04.004\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGalperin H., Bar F., and Nguyen H. (2021). The power divide: Mobile communication in Los Angeles\u0026apos; Skid Row. \u003cem\u003eMobile Media \u0026amp; Communication\u003c/em\u003e, (01): 30-50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2050157920932608\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGunkel D J. (2003). Second thoughts: Toward a critique of the digital divide. \u003cem\u003eNew Media \u0026amp; Society\u003c/em\u003e, (04): 499-522. https://doi.org/10.1177/146144480354003\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGunasekaran Vinoth, Fotios C. Harmantzis.(2006).Emerging wireless technologies for developing countries.\u003cem\u003eTechnology in Society,\u003c/em\u003e(1):23-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2006.10.001\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuo Hongdong, Zeng Yiwu, \u0026amp; Qu Jiang. (2023). Digital Countryside Construction: Theory and Practice. Hangzhou: Zhejiang University Press.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHannan B., Eynon R. (2025). Widening the digital divide: the mediating role of intelligent tutoring systems in the relationship between rurality, socioeducational advantage, and mathematics learning outcomes.Computers \u0026amp; Education, (233): 105312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2025.105312\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe, Z., Zhang, X., \u0026amp; Wan, G. (2020). Digital finance, digital divide, and multidimensional poverty. \u003cem\u003eStatistical Research,\u003c/em\u003e 37(10), 79-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.19343/j.cnki.11-1302/c.2020.10.007.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJean. C. Oi. (2021). Rural China Takes Off: Institutional Foundations of Economic Reform. Li Weidong, Translation. Beijing: China Social Science Press.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJohn Pierson. (1999). Tackling Social Exclusion. New York: Rougtledge.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKuang Yalin. (2022). Digital Integration Barriers of the Elderly: Influencing Factors, User Portraits and Policy Responses. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Social Sciences Edition),\u003c/em\u003e(01):46-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.19648/j.cnki.jhustss1980.2022.01.06.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKuang Yalin, Wu Jiaxin. (2025). Digital symbiosis: Construction of a digital inclusive ecosystem for the rural elderly. Jiangsu Social Science, (02): 132-141.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLevy H., Janke A.T., \u0026amp; Langa K. M. (2015). Health literacy and the digital divide among older americans. Journal of General Internal Medicine, (12): 284\u0026ndash;289. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-014-3069-5\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLi R., Wang Q. \u0026amp; Yang T. (2025). Digital economy and carbon efficiency: the roles of population aging and human capital. Humanities and Social Sciences Communities, (12): 646. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04809-9 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLi Zhijun, Liu Haiyan, \u0026amp; Liu Jisheng. (2010). Imbalance Analysis of Rural Infrastructure Construction in China. Scientia Geographica Sinica, (06): 839-846. https://doi.org/10.13249/j.cnki.sgs.2010.06.839\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLin Bao. (2020). Difficulties and Priorities of Digital Poverty Governance for the Elderly. \u003cem\u003ePeople\u0026apos;s Forum,\u003c/em\u003e(29):3.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLiu Yi \u0026amp; Li Xiaona. (2022). How can the digital divide of the elderly be crossed in the digital age?. \u003cem\u003eSoutheast Academic,\u003c/em\u003e(05):105-115. http://dx.doi.org/10.13658/j.cnki.sar.2022.05.020.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLu Jiehua \u0026amp; Wei Xiaodan. (2021). Analytical Framework, Concept and Path Selection of Digital Divide Governance for the Elderly: Based on the Perspective of Digital Divide and Knowledge Gap Theory. \u003cem\u003ePopulation Research,\u003c/em\u003e(03):17-30.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMar\u0026iacute;a Rosal\u0026iacute;a Vicente Ana Jes\u0026uacute;s L\u0026oacute;pez.(2010).Assessing the regional digital divide across the European Union-27.\u003cem\u003eTelecommunications Policy\u003c/em\u003e,(3):220-237. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2010.12.013\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNadine Mumporeze \u0026amp; Michael Prieler. (2017). Gender digital divide in Rwanda: A qualitative analysis of socioeconomic factors. \u003cem\u003eTelematics and Informatics,\u003c/em\u003e(7):1285-1293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2017.05.014\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOgburn. (1989). Social Change: On Culture and Innate Nature. Zhejiang People\u0026apos;s Publishing House.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRen Hang, Jia Feiran, Zhang Xingyu. (2022). The \u0026quot;triple dilemma\u0026quot; of digital integration of the elderly group from the perspective of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and its response path. \u003cem\u003eNews Spring and Autumn,\u003c/em\u003e(05):38-45.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeng H. (2007). Social Exclusion in the Welfare Triangle: An Empirical Study on New Poverty Communities in Chinese Cities. Shanghai: Shanghai People\u0026apos;s Publishing House.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRene Lenoir. (1974). Les Exclus,un Francais sur Dix. Paris: Les Editions du Seuil.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRiggins, F. J. \u0026amp; Dewan, S. (2008).The Digital Divide: Current and Future Research Directions.\u003cem\u003eJournal of the Association for Information Systems,\u003c/em\u003e6(12):4. http://aisel.aisnet.org/jais/vol6/iss12/4\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRobles, J. M., Torres-Albero, C., \u0026amp; De Marco, S. (2011). Spanish E-government and the third digital divide: A sociological view. \u003cem\u003eJournal of US-China Public Administration,\u003c/em\u003e 8(4), 401-412.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSingh, S. \u0026amp; Singh Uma Shankar Nermend Malgorzata.(2022).Sustainability in a Digitized Era Analyzing the Moderation Effect of Social Strata and Digital Capital Dependence on Digital Divide. \u003cem\u003eSustainability,\u003c/em\u003e(21):14508-14508. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114508\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSong Yu, Qian Chenfei \u0026amp; Pickard Susan.(2021).Age-Related Digital Divide during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China. \u003cem\u003eInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,\u003c/em\u003e(21):11285-11285. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111285.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpanakis, P., Peckham, E., Mathers, A., Shiers, D., \u0026amp; Gilbody, S. (2021). The digital divide: Amplifying health inequalities for people with severe mental illness in the time of COVID-19. \u003cem\u003eThe British Journal of Psychiatry,\u003c/em\u003e 219 (4), 529-531. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2021.56.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSzeles M. R.(2018).New insights from a multilevel approach to the regional digital divide in the European Union.\u003cem\u003eTelecommunications Policy,\u003c/em\u003e(6):452-463. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2018.03.007\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWang C. Z. , Peng X. B. \u0026amp; Peng Y. (2020). Attention Evolution of Big Data Governance Policies of Local Government\u0026mdash; Based on Grounded Theory and Social Network. Journal of Intelligence, (12): 111-118. http://10.3969 / J.issn.1002－1965.2020.12.017\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWang, Bo \u0026amp; Dong Hao. (2023). Research on the farmers\u0026rsquo; agricultural digital service use behavior under the rural revitalization strat-egy-based on the extended technology acceptance model. Frontiers. Environmental. Science, (11):1180072. https://10.3389/fenvs.2023.1180072\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWilson, K. R. , Wallin, J. S. , \u0026amp; Reiser, C. . (2003). Social stratification and the digital divide. Social Science Computer Review, (2):133-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0894439303021002001\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eXu Qian. (2022). Analyzing the Root Causes of the Aging Digital Divide and Constructing a Digital Inclusive Society. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Hohai University (Philosophy and Social Science),\u003c/em\u003e(02):94-101+112. http://dx.doi.org/10.3876/j.issn.1671.4970.2022.02.013\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eXu Qinghong. (2017). Digital Inequality: A Review of Research on Social Class and Internet Use. \u003cem\u003eUniversity Library Work,\u003c/em\u003e(05):16-20.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYang Juhua \u0026amp; Liu Yifeng. (2022). Longevity Dividend in the Digital Age: Feasible Capabilities and Endogenous Motivation in the Digital Life of the Elderly. \u003cem\u003eAdministrative Reform,\u003c/em\u003e(01):26-36. http://dx.doi.org/10.14150/j.cnki.1674-7453.2022.01.004\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYang Yifan, Pan Junhao. (2021). The dilemma of digital integration of the elderly and its coping path. \u003cem\u003eJournalism and Writing,\u003c/em\u003e(03):22-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1002-2295.2021.03.005\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZhang Guanghui, Li Jiuling. (2023). Digital economy, rural labor employment and common prosperity of farmers and rural areas. Study＆Exploration, (12):90-98. https://10.3969/j.issn.1002-462X.2023.12.012\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZheng N., Chen Y. (2024). Research on Digital Poverty and Its Governance Among Rural Elderly Population. Modern Economic Research, 513 (09): 111-122. DOI: https://10.13891/j.cnki.mer.2024.09.007.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZhou Xianghong. (2016). From the Digital Divide to Digital Poverty: Basic Concepts and Research Framework. \u003cem\u003eXuehai,\u003c/em\u003e(04):154-157. https://doi.org/10.16091/j.cnki.cn32-1308/c.2016.04.023\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"humanities-and-social-sciences-communications","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"palcomms","sideBox":"Learn more about [Humanities \u0026 Social Sciences Communications](http://www.nature.com/palcomms/)","snPcode":"41599","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/41599/3","title":"Humanities and Social Sciences Communications","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Nature AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"social exclusion theory, rural elderly, digital divide, information symmetry, public security","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8841761/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8841761/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eIn contemporary China, where digital technology is rapidly advancing, the elderly in rural areas are confronted with a significant digital divide. Based on the theory of social exclusion, this study adopts a combined research method of questionnaire survey and in-depth interview, and conducts a theory-rooted qualitative study on the interview texts of 125 elderly residents in Ding Village from June 2023 to September 2023, aiming to explore the generative logic and governance approaches of the digital divide among the rural elderly group. The investigation revealed that during the process of integrating into the digital society, due to the digital divide, the rural elderly in China have digital integration dilemmas mainly at three levels: the access gap, the use gap, and the literacy gap. It was mainly due to the fact that the elderly group suffered from multiple forms of structural exclusion, including economic exclusion, institutional exclusion, technological exclusion, and social exclusion. On the premise of fully considering the social environment of the elderly in rural areas, a multi-dimensional integration perspective of society, community, enterprises, and individuals should be adopted to eliminate social exclusion. Based on the social exclusion theory, this research constructs a micro-level analytical framework to explore the generative mechanisms of the digital divide among social groups, while providing empirical evidence for policymakers to improve rural elderly care in the digital society.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"The digital divide among the elderly in rural China: generation mechanism and governance approaches","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-03-24 08:04:11","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8841761/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-04-17T23:52:11+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-12T09:04:22+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-09T06:25:49+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"105667208489733514827042220497540792534","date":"2026-04-06T15:16:44+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-06T10:01:27+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"1641708763001942708528496546047698586","date":"2026-04-06T07:05:08+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"76469729391897472213193157789011837976","date":"2026-04-05T15:43:28+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"81904316930174994067723146070038323910","date":"2026-03-21T11:46:17+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-03-19T02:49:12+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-03-18T06:46:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2026-03-18T06:17:18+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-03-13T15:47:02+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Humanities and Social Sciences Communications","date":"2026-03-13T02:58:35+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"humanities-and-social-sciences-communications","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"palcomms","sideBox":"Learn more about [Humanities \u0026 Social Sciences Communications](http://www.nature.com/palcomms/)","snPcode":"41599","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/41599/3","title":"Humanities and Social Sciences Communications","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Nature AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"ece92412-c565-4263-b1cf-33c70844536b","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 24th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"in-revision","subjectAreas":[{"id":64921105,"name":"Social science/Development studies"},{"id":64921106,"name":"Social science/Social policy"},{"id":64921107,"name":"Social science/Sociology"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-18T00:08:06+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-03-24 08:04:11","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8841761","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8841761","identity":"rs-8841761","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}