Unlimited Smartphone Data Plans in Older Adults With Data Deprivation: Quasi-Experimental Study

The growth of mobile health has underscored the critical importance of equitable internet access in promoting healthy aging. Among older adults, particularly those in digitally underserved populations, access to mobile data is often limited due to affordability and technological barriers, leading to a phenomenon known as "data deprivation." This form of digital inequality limits the older adults' ability to participate in social, recreational, and community-based activities, which are protective against isolation and decline in later life. In South Korea, where unlimited smartphone data plans have become increasingly accessible, a unique opportunity exists to examine the real-world association of improved data accessibility on older adults' social lives and digital engagement.

This study aimed to examine whether switching to unlimited smartphone data plans enhances social participation among older adults in South Korea. It also explored whether this relationship differs by demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, such as age, gender, region, household composition, and income level. The study focused on offline domains of social participation, including hobby gatherings, religious services, volunteering, and routine activities such as shopping.

Data were drawn from the Korea Media Panel Survey (2016-2022), a nationally representative longitudinal dataset. The final sample included 5021 individuals. Social participation was measured using a self-reported 8-item scale (8-64 points) covering outdoor activities, volunteering, and more. A difference-in-differences approach was used to assess the association of switching from limited to unlimited smartphone data plans on social activity scores. Subgroup analyses examined heterogeneity by gender, household composition, income, and region.

Overall, among individuals aged 60 years and older, switching to an unlimited data plan was not associated with a statistically significant change in social activity scores. However, within this group, those aged 70 years and older showed a more notable-though not statistically significant-improvement (differential of 1.54, 95% CI -0.41 to 3.50). In contrast, older men living alone experienced a significant differential improvement of 6.44 (95% CI 3.39 to 9.50) points, compared with those who remained on limited plans.

Although the overall association of unlimited data plans was limited, certain vulnerable subgroups-particularly older men living alone-experienced meaningful gains. These findings suggest that improving mobile data accessibility may enhance social engagement among digitally underserved older adults. Compared with more complex or resource-intensive interventions, expanding access to unlimited smartphone data plans may offer a relatively simple and scalable strategy to support healthy aging and reduce social isolation.