Digitalization in China: who’s left behind?

In an age of digitalization, who still refuses to use digital technology? Drawing on nationally-representative Chinese General Social Survey data, this article finds that about half households do not actively the Internet or e-payment systems, despite their ubiquity. This estimates effects socioeconomic resources these technologies’ (non-)use across urban, resident but previously rural, and rural hukou household registrations in China. Educational attainment is associated with higher odds among hukou, size effect nearly double compared urban hukou. Additionally, being female increases lowers which are attenuated by mediating education. The results give credence education as a direct indirect mechanism for skills development, especially households. Individuals proximal living conditions have fewer opportunities learn technology, resulting greater dependency rare source training. Simultaneously, indirectly creates women improving chances higher-status job participation require information management skills, regions where traditional cultural norms constrain upward mobility. Ultimately, technology non-use traced lack interest, development socioeconomically disadvantaged.