Generational Difference in Internet Use and Moral Evaluation: The Mediating Role of Moral Anomie

Various forms of media have become the primary channels through which people access social information. Previous studies have shown that media use plays a vital role in residents’ moral evaluation of society. However, the specific mechanisms behind this relationship remain unclear. This study used data from the Chinese General Social Survey 2013 to explore how moral anomie mediates the relationship between Internet use and moral evaluation of society, and how generation moderates this link. The findings revealed significant generational differences in Internet use, moral anomie, and moral evaluation among Chinese residents. Internet use had a notably negative association with moral evaluation, and moral anomie partially mediated the relationship between Internet use and moral evaluation. Furthermore, generation moderated the indirect path between Internet use and moral anomie as well as moral anomie and moral evaluation. This study would shed light on moral development in the online environment and provide insights into moral practice, enabling targeted outreach to different generational cohorts to better serve societal needs.