Mechanisms of the impact of digital government on the digital divide among older adults: a scoping review

Digital government is a key to enhance national competitiveness and optimise public service quality. Its inclusiveness should bridge the intergenerational digital divide. However, the impact mechanism on older adults' digital divide is in the exploratory stage. Therefore, this review examines 490 studies to explore how it affects older adults' digital divide. The 20 reviewed studies show that digital government influences the divide through optimizing platform accessibility, strengthening services, and training digital literacy. Moreover, it reveals a trust-building mechanism and a three-stage trust framework. These findings provide tools for policymakers to reduce the risk of digital exclusion and open new research avenues.