Bridging the Digital Divide: Machine Learning Analysis of Internet Access Effects on Subjective Well-Being

Jiaxu Zhang, Chao Li, Bo Shi, Alexander Ryota Keeley, Shunsuke Managi

Abstract In this rapidly evolving digital age, the impact of internet access on human well-being has become a key issue of social equity and development. As the global digital divide widens, little is known about how internet access affects individual subjective well-being (SWB). This study uses the Gallup World Poll (GWP) dataset, covering approximately 1 million observations from 168 countries between 2016 and 2022. Using machine learning techniques with propensity score matching models, we explore how digital connectivity influences SWB across dimensions. Our study finds that internet access can increase SWB by 9.2% and help bridge the digital divide. This relationship varies across time, countries, and demographic characteristics. The positive impact peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic and gradually declined afterward. Across different levels of national development, the positive effect of internet access on SWB is more pronounced and stable in developed countries compared to developing countries. Demographically, Internet access enhances the subjective well-being of young and middle-aged groups. Additionally, internet access helps reduce the negative impact of poor health and low income on SWB. Governments should bridge the digital divide through infrastructure and subsidies for vulnerable groups, ensuring equal internet access to enhance social well-being.