Age-Related Digital Divide during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China

Abstract

China has adopted a variety of digital technologies to effectively combat the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. The massive utilisation of digital technologies, however, to a great extent, magnifies the age-related digital divide. This paper aims to examine the impacts of the age-related digital divide on older adults in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cases of three age-related digital divide scenarios, including older people taking public transportation, seeking medical care, as well as conducting digital transactions, are collected from Chinese official news outlets. The results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates the pace of digital technology utilisation but exacerbates the age-related digital divide. Such an age-related digital divide has largely excluded older adults from both the real society and the virtual society. Older adults’ personal attitudes and motivations, as well as education and income, governmental policies, and family and social supports, are all major contributors to the severe impacts of the age-related digital divide on old adults during the pandemic. More measures should be adopted to bridge the age-related digital divide and build a senior-friendly e-society.

What are patients’ first-time experiences with video consulting? A qualitative interview study in Danish general practice in times of COVID-19

“…A new study conducted for the organisation ‘Danish Patients’ shows that four out of 10 older people between 60 and 80 years of age wish to be able to choose a digital consultation with their GP if the problem can be handled as well digitally as by physical attendance46 and another recent investigation shows that 55% of Danes wish for more digital dialogue with their health services 47. Although those at the ‘right’ side (younger and IT-literate people) of the digital divide in Denmark are benefitting much more from online healthcare communication than those at the ‘wrong’ side (eg, ethnic minorities and older people),45 and might also be those who are selected by healthcare professionals to use VCs, Denmark’s status as digital forerunner might create greater opportunities for VC roll out, and for equity of access to healthcare, than in other developed countries (eg, UK, USA and China), where COVID-19 has widened the digital divide in disadvantaged patient populations 48 49. The low uptake of VC in general practice in Denmark might therefore be more attributable to organisational barriers and challenges within general practice, an aspect highlighted by other international authors,50 than difficulties in utilisation of digital technologies among disadvantaged patient groups.…”

Gamification and older adults: opportunities for gamification to support health promotion initiatives for older adults in the context of COVID-19

“… 56 Another paper noted that the rapid escalation of digital adoption, including technologies connected to mobility such as the Health Code app, have led to a widening of the digital divide in China. 57 The pandemic has provided an opportunity for older Malaysians to embrace using digital technology to shop, participate in healthy active activities or stay in touch with friends. 58 Others have reportedly found the switch difficult which has highlighted the need for user-centred design practices.…”

Behavioral Patterns of Supply and Demand Sides of Health Services for the Elderly in Sustainable Digital Transformation: A Mixed Methods Study

“…Due to the significant gap in perception, the difference in the identity and satisfaction between young people and the elderly is more obvious. The problem of the "digital divide" in the elderly is not only due to the barriers faced by digital technology [62], but also because existing digital technology fails to conform to the behavior habits of the elderly [63]. In solving the "digital divide" problem, the elderly's perception of digital transformation should be improved, and, consequently, their identity and satisfaction should improve [64].…”