A Gaussian process model for capturing digital divide in mobile app usage: the role of habit formation

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ABSTRACT Natural disasters, such as COVID-19, may have reinforced the digital divide among various population groups. Drawing on the regulatory focus theory, this study proposes a Gaussian process model to capture the dynamics of the ‘second-level digital divide’ over 14 months during a natural crisis, namely the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings indicate that the pandemic reduced the digital divide among mobile users across different age groups. Additionally, the analysis identifies habit formation as a factor that could mitigate the digital divide. This study offers recommendations to reduce the digital divide and promote digital inclusion for older people in the post-pandemic world, should society face a recurrence of COVID-19 or another pandemic outbreak in the future.