Does Internet Use Promote 'Active Ageing'?

Abstract

The rapid development of Internet technology has not only expanded the intergenerational interaction between the elderly and their children but also diversified the social participation and entertainment of the elderly. Based on the 2016 data released by the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey, this paper used traditional regression and PSM methods to investigate the influence of Internet use on elderly people's provision of care and participation in social volunteer services from the perspective of " active ageing ", and conducted a robustness test.The analysis found that Internet use has a significant positive effect on the 'active ageing' of older people and that the use of smartphones to access the Internet can also have a positive effect. In the context of the country's vigorous promotion of "Internet Plus" for the elderly, it is important to actively carry out "ageing-friendly" renovation of relevant Internet facilities, encourage the elderly to access and learn to use the Internet, and increase their Internet usage rate.