Economic Inequality is Associated with Lower Internet Use: A Nationally Representative Study

Abstract

Income inequality generates structural barriers that prevent people especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds from accessing key resources. However, extant research on income inequality has mostly investigated its impact on limiting access to material but not digital resources. Digital resources have become more critical in the twenty-first century. The current research aims to explore whether income inequality is associated with individuals’ internet use. Based on an investigation of a nationally representative study of children and adolescents (n = 10,386; Mage = 11.61) from 25 provinces in China, we found that children and adolescents in more unequal provinces engaged in less internet use. Moreover, this relationship was moderated by socioeconomic background. In more unequal provinces, only children and adolescents from low-income families reported lower internet use but those from high-income families did not. These findings indicate the significance of income inequality and of the moderating role of socioeconomic condition in shaping access to digital resources.