Predictors of shifts in Internet use and frequency among older adults in Japan before and in later stages of COVID-19: A longitudinal panel study

The study identifies the predictors of four patterns of shift in Internet use and frequency among older adults from the pre-COVID-19 to later stages of the pandemic. Our data included 4699 participants from a nation-wide panel study, the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study from 2019 to 2022. The findings demonstrated that 322 of 1884 (17.1%) nonusers initiated Internet use in 2019, while 418 of 2815 (14.8%) users discontinued Internet use in 2019. Older age, low education, and low population density predicted less initiation, greater discontinuation, less increase, and more decrease in Internet use. Participation in social activities predicted more initiation, lower discontinuation, and decrease in Internet use. Social support was associated with initiation, discontinuation, and increase in Internet use; the associations varied by the source of support. Digital divide among older adults was exacerbated by socioeconomic disparities. Engagement in social activities and targeted social support may help bridge this divide.