Abstract: With the rapid development of Information and Communication Technology, accelerating digital development and building Digital China is one of our country’s important development goals. Narrowing the digital divide and reducing digital poverty are key measures to achieve this goal. This study aims to develop the concept of digital interaction, thereby enriching the connotations and scope of digital inequality and advancing theoretical research on digital inequality. Based on the theoretical framework related to social support and social interaction, this study utilizes a combination of semi-structured interview methods and diary methods. Data was collected from 43 interviewees and 18 recorders through various means such as audio recordings, text, and images. The aim was to explore and analyze the manifestations of digital interaction across different age groups. The study constructed a three-dimensional theoretical framework to describe digital interaction, identifying three main categories: interaction types, ties between interaction participants, and interaction content. The interaction types encompass ten subcategories: receiving help, offering help, digital sharing, digital competition, digital cooperation, digital restriction, digital conflict, digital compliance, digital imitation, and digital exchange. The relationships between interaction participants include two subcategories: strong ties and weak ties. The interaction content comprises five subcategories: devices, networks, applications, functions, and information. This research provides a theoretical foundation for the development of subsequent measurement frameworks and explores how digital interaction influences digital inequality. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and social workers in designing more effective interventions to bridge the digital divide and promote social equity.

Key words: Social interaction, Social support, Digital interaction, Digital inequality, Digital divide