Digital Divide and Social Integration of Rural Elderly People
-- A Grounded Theory Analysis
Keywords:
Digital Divide; Social Integration; Rural Elderly People; Grounded Theory.Abstract
In the digital era, digital technology has developed rapidly and has filled every aspect of people's lives. However, older people, especially those in rural areas, encounter many difficulties using digital technology and lack appropriate digital skills. Research on the digital divide among older people has mainly focused on the causes and mechanisms of the digital divide, with a relatively simple perspective. Few studies deal with the digital divide for rural elderly people, and the coverage is minimal. This study explores the characteristics of the digital divide among rural elderly people, the primary and secondary factors that contribute to the digital divide, and the differences within the rural elderly people groups. We use the grounded theory method to conduct one-on-one interviews with older people over 60 in a village in the eastern coastal region, then coding the interview data at three aspects. By analyzing the interview data, we find some characteristics. First, influenced by various factors, rural elderly people have significant individual differences in the use of digital technology. Second, the digital divide phenomenon of rural elderly people in the eastern coastal areas with better economic development is not so serious. Many older people have digital devices and can use digital technology. Third, the government is absent in the digital divide among rural elderly people. Fourth, the smart devices and purposes used by rural elderly people are relatively single. Our study opens up a new perspective on the study of the digital divide. In addition, from the perspective of the multiple integration of the individual, society, and government, this study is significant to help rural elderly people eliminate the digital divide and integrate into the digital society.
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