Internet Use and Child Malnutrition: Evidence from Rural Areas in China

Child malnutrition has long posed a serious threat the development of human capital in developing countries. As digitalization advances, the internet has become an integral part of daily life. This paper examines the impact of internet use on long-term and short-term child malnutrition in rural China. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) and growth reference standards for urban children in China, we construct a measure of child malnutrition in rural areas. To address the endogeneity of Internet use, we employ the two-stage residual inclusion (2SRI) method. The results show that internet use significantly improves both long- and short-term child malnutrition in rural China, but that the marginal effect becomes less significant over time. These findings offer empirical support for SDG2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG3 (Good Health and Well-being), underscoring the potential of internet development as a strategic tool for poverty reduction and health promotion across regions.