Internet Penetration and Leisure Activity Entropy: A Macro-Micro Integrated Analysis

Amid debates over internet penetration's impact on leisure diversity-"macro-level entropy increase" vs. "micro-level entropy reduction"-this study explores their intrinsic link by introducing Shannon's information entropy theory and constructing a three-tier framework ("micro-individual decision-making-macro-regional growth-macro-micro linkage"). Using microdata from the China General Social Survey and macro data from the China Economic and Financial Research Database, we adopt a multi-method approach (benchmark regression, mediation/nonlinear analysis) to test hypotheses. Key findings: micro-level internet penetration boosts individual leisure entropy; macro-level impact may follow an inverted U-shape, mediated by micro-level internet use; the entropy-increasing effect is strongest for learning-oriented leisure, weakest for social-oriented leisure; education, income, and internet penetration are core configurational conditions. This study contributes a quantitative leisure diversity framework, an integrated macro-micro model, and insights into the nonlinearities of internet penetration.