Identity reconstruction and digital addiction: the paradoxical mechanism of digital inclusion among the new generation of older adults

Introduction Against the backdrop of population aging and rapid digitalization in China, the new generation of older adults faces a growing paradox of digital inclusion. While digital participation can generate important benefits, it may also produce physical discomfort, health risks, psychological strain, and behavioral dependence. Methods To achieve healthy and sustainable digital participation, this study develops an integrated framework drawing on dramaturgical, Motivation-Opportunity-Ability (MOA), and optimal distinctiveness theories and proposes a pathway linking digital inclusion, identity reconstruction, and digital addiction. Identity reconstruction is conceptualized as a five-stage process comprising identity formulation, identification, dissemination, co-construction, and maintenance. Then algorithmic perception, platform pressure, and digital reflection are further introduced as moderating variables. Using a mixed-methods design that combines structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, this study validates the proposed framework and identifies three patterns of digital addiction: identity operation, identity reinforcement, and norm-guided. Results The findings indicate that digital inclusion does not directly trigger digital addiction but indirectly influences sustained use through multiple stages of identity reconstruction. Moreover, algorithmic perception, platform pressure, and digital reflection exert differentiated moderating effects on the relationship between identity reconstruction and digital addiction. The three identified patterns move beyond conventional explanations based on limited digital skills, cognitive decline, or insufficient self-control, and instead reveal the central role of differentiated identity mechanisms in the formation of digital addiction. Discussion These findings advance our understanding of the unintended consequences of digital inclusion and point to the need for multilevel interventions that better align identity needs, platform structures, and social support.