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Background As digital technologies grow increasingly integral to daily life and internet access becomes ubiquitous, socioeconomic disparities in internet use may exacerbate existing social, economic, and health inequalities. Despite widespread increases in internet adoption over time, it remains unclear whether trends in internet use differ depending on socioeconomic characteristics. This issue is particularly relevant for older adults, who face the highest risk of digital exclusion. To address this gap, we examined socioeconomic differences in trajectories of internet use among older adults in England.Methods Data were drawn from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), including 9,418 participants aged 50 and over, followed up across five waves of data collection from 2012/13 to 2021/23. Socioeconomic position (SEP) was measured at baseline and included education (A-level and higher, O-level, or less than O-level), occupation (managerial/professional, intermediate, or routine/manual), and wealth (quintiles of total non-pension wealth). The frequency of internet use (everyday/weekly vs. never/rarely) was measured across the five waves. Associations between SEP and internet use were examined using mixed-effects logistic regression models, with adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, marital status, health conditions, and depressive symptoms.Results At baseline (2012/13), an SEP gradient in internet use was observed, with individuals in lower SEP groups being less likely to use internet frequently (e.g., Odds Ratio [OR] for O-level vs. A-level and higher [ref] education = 0.23 [95% Confidence Interval = 0.16–0.34]; OR for intermediate vs. managerial/professional [ref] occupation = 0.26 [0.18–0.38]; OR for middle vs. highest [ref] wealth quintile = 0.17 [0.11–0.27]). Over time, internet use increased across all socioeconomic groups; interaction terms (SEP × wave) indicated the greatest increase in internet use among those in lowest SEP groups (e.g., OR for less than O-level vs. A-level and higher [ref] education × wave = 1.27 [1.09–1.48]; OR for routine/manual vs. managerial/professional [ref] occupation × wave = 1.31 [1.13–1.52]; OR for lowest vs. highest [ref] wealth × wave = 1.26 [1.02–1.56]). Despite this growth, a small but persistent SEP gradient remained by the end of the study period.Conclusion Despite substantial reductions in socioeconomic inequalities in internet use over time, disparities persisted, highlighting the continued risk of digital exclusion among older adults in lowest SEP groups. Targeted interventions, such as digital literacy programs and subsidized internet access, are needed to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive digital engagement across all socioeconomic groups.