How Does Digital Life Affect Family Fertility Behavior? — An Analysis Based on CFPS Data of Chinese Families with a Second Child

This paper uses data from the 2014–2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) and draws on Becker’s household production theory to examine the impact of digital life on second-child fertility behavior. The results show that digital life has a significant negative effect on second-child fertility: households with higher levels of digital engagement are less likely to have a second child. Digital life influences fertility mainly through three channels: time displacement, parenting pressure, and changes in parenting attitudes. Among different dimensions of digital life, digital learning, work, and entertainment exert a stronger negative impact on fertility than digital consumption. The negative effect of digital life is more pronounced after the implementation of the universal two-child policy, in urban households, in higher-income families, and in families whose first child is a boy. Moreover, the crowding-out effect of healthcare coverage and the rising cost of childrearing further strengthen this negative impact. However, modern parenting attitudes and grandparental childcare support can partially mitigate this adverse effect. Based on these findings, this paper proposes a series of policy recommendations aimed at improving digital life management and optimizing household fertility behavior.