Bridging the digital divide: The influence of digital feedback on the digital capabilities of the rural elderly

The aging population in China has made the digital divide among the elderly an eye-catching issue for society and academia. This study aims to address how to enhance the digital capabilities of seniors, narrow the intergenerational digital divide, and improve the elderly's adaptation to digital life. With a keen eye on digital feedback, this study explores the mediating effect model of digital feedback on the digital capabilities of the elderly. The empirical results derived from the survey of the rural elderly in China (N = 458) show that: 1.digital feedback, digital access, smartphone usage behavior, and digital capabilities are positively correlated with each other; 2. digital access and smartphone usage behavior play a chain-mediated role between digital feedback and digital capabilities; 3. The digital feedback, digital access, smartphone usage behavior, and digital capabilities of empty nesters in rural areas are lower than those of non-empty nesters. This study makes theoretical contributions to understanding how digital feedback affects the digital capabilities of the elderly.