[eMarketer] China closing the digital divide for the elderly

The digital divide has widened, particularly over the past year, and left seniors worldwide in the lurch. This issue takes on added urgency in China, where gender imbalance, delayed marriage, and a declining birthrate only exacerbate the rapid aging of its population. In November, the government urged tech companies to cater to the elderly, and China’s digital giants are now tapping into the so-called silver market.

This market has huge potential. By 2040, there will be 402 million people ages 60 and older in China, making up 28% of the country’s population, per a World Health Organization (WHO) forecast from 2019.

Internet adoption among seniors remains low, despite a boost from lockdowns and pandemic-related travel restrictions. We estimate that the penetration rate among people ages 65 and older in China will be just 41.8% this year and won’t reach the halfway mark until the end of 2025. However, this cohort will see the fastest growth year over year, at 14.2% in 2021 and 10.6% in 2022.

December 2020 polling by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) shows how deeply embedded digital tools are in everyday life. When internet non-users in China were asked about daily inconveniences they encountered, the one they cited most was being barred from certain public places for not having a “health” QR code that identifies their contagion risk based on their digital and physical footprints.

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