This study explores community-based digital inclusion practices for older adults in urban China, focusing on Suzhou. Despite national efforts to promote digital equity, gaps remain in local service implementation. Integrating social support, social capital, and social practice theories, the research examines practices across six districts in Suzhou. Data from policy documents, local reports, and case studies were analysed to evaluate how services provide support, foster social capital, and shape digital use. Findings show that current services effectively offer instrumental support and basic training but lack strategies to build bridging social capital or shift older adults’ perceptions of technology. The common one-on-one tutoring model supports skill acquisition but isolates learners, limiting peer connections and weakening the sustainability of digital practices. This study highlights the importance of community-level social dynamics in digital inclusion. It argues for a shift from service delivery to an ecosystem-building approach that encourages peer networks and fosters positive digital identities among older adults. These insights contribute to understanding sustainable digital inclusion in aging societies.

Authors:
Xue Bai, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China
Yu Song, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Xue Bai is an assistant professor of the XIPU Institution at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, member of the Centre for Ageing and the Life Course at the University of Liverpool.

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