Divide or Bridge: How does broadband infrastructure reshape the sense of safety among the elderly?

Abstract

In the context of the dual advancement of aging and digitalization, how digitalization can empower the elderly has become an important research topic. This paper utilizes panel data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) from 2012 to 2020 and employs the “Broadband China” strategy as an exogenous shock to examine the impact of broadband infrastructure on the sense of safety among the elderly. The study finds that broadband infrastructure significantly enhances the social sense of safety among the elderly, primarily by promoting their digital participation and increasing their political trust, thereby improving their overall sense of safety. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that broadband infrastructure mainly improves the sense of safety among female, low-educated, rural, and spouseless elderly individuals. This study provides important insights into how to alleviate information poverty among the elderly, bridge the digital divide, and build an actively aging society in the context of the digital age.