DIGITAL INEQUALITY AND SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY IN LATER LIFE: URBAN–PERI–URBAN DIFFERENCES AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN HO CHI MINH CITY

Later life social connectedness is increasingly affected by spatial transformation, digital access, and changing community forms in the digital society. Using a structured survey of 161 older persons, this study examined the social connectivity of older individuals in an inner–city neighborhood and a peri–urban region of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), focusing on the impact of digital inequality on social engagement and support. The findings revealed that social connectivity was unevenly structured across relational domains. Bonding ties remained relatively strong, while linking connectivity—associated with formal participation—remained limited. Older adults in peri–urban areas reported significantly higher bonding connectivity, whereas no significant spatial differences are observed in bridging and linking connectivity. Regression results indicated that digital access and digital skills had limited explanatory power, particularly for formal social participation. Although digital access differed across the two areas, this inequality did not translate into differences in broader social connectivity. Drawing on the perspective of Bourdieu’s theory of capital, the study argues that digital resources are not effectively converted into social connectivity. Digital inclusion for older adults is a social and geographic justice issue that requires comprehensive interventions across infrastructure, community institutions, and daily social activities.