Digitalization and nutrition: How does internet use affect dietary diversity among rural residents?

The nutritional status of rural residents is transitioning from “eating enough” to “eating well,” but dietary imbalance and low dietary quality continue to be significant concerns. This study empirically analyzes the impact of internet use on dietary diversity among rural residents based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Firstly, the study found a significant positive correlation between internet use and dietary diversity among rural residents. Secondly, the impact of internet use on rural dietary diversity varies by location and individual, with a significant positive impact on the dietary diversity of Han Chinese, highly skilled individuals, and rural residents in non-township areas, but no significant impact on ethnic minorities, low-skilled individuals, and rural township areas, while the impact is more significant in low-density communities than in high-density communities. Furthermore, internet use has a significant positive impact on the dietary diversity of animal-based foods among rural residents, but no significant impact on plant-based foods. Finally, mechanistic analysis shows that internet use primarily improves the dietary diversity of rural residents through direct pathways of increased nutritional literacy and indirect pathways through increased household income. This paper provides a possible new perspective for improving the nutritional structure of rural residents from a “technology-society” perspective and offers policy implications for improving the “uneven” impact of internet use on the nutritional structure of different groups.