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Causes of the Digital Divide Explained

The digital divide in the United States has increased over the past decade according to a new study. While internet usage among U.S. adults rose to 75% by 2009, up from 48% in 2000, gaps based on income, race, and urban vs. rural areas have grown significantly. People with higher incomes are now 60% more likely to have home internet access than the next lower income group, and African Americans are 60% less likely than Caucasians. Rural residents also have 40% less access than urban dwellers, representing a broader gap than earlier in the decade.

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143 views1 page

Causes of the Digital Divide Explained

The digital divide in the United States has increased over the past decade according to a new study. While internet usage among U.S. adults rose to 75% by 2009, up from 48% in 2000, gaps based on income, race, and urban vs. rural areas have grown significantly. People with higher incomes are now 60% more likely to have home internet access than the next lower income group, and African Americans are 60% less likely than Caucasians. Rural residents also have 40% less access than urban dwellers, representing a broader gap than earlier in the decade.

Uploaded by

Amer Javed
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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  • The Digital Divide
  • Factors Contributing to the Digital Divide

THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

The "digital divide" -- the gap in Internet access and usage due to socioeconomic factors -- is increasing,
according to research published in the Communications of the Association for Information Systems.
By late 2009, about 75 percent of U.S. adults were using the Internet, compared to about 48 percent in 2000.
Despite this increase, there has been no significant change in access and usage based on age, gender and
education. Younger people, men and those with a college education remain more likely to use the Internet in
their homes.
In terms of income, race and urban vs. rural residents, the digital divide has actually become greater in the
past decade. The researchers found that people with higher incomes had a 60 percent higher likelihood
of home Internet access than those in the next lower income group, an increase from 40 percent at the
beginning of the decade. In addition, Internet access in African-American homes is 60 percent less than in
Caucasian households, and rural residents have 40 percent less access than urban dwellers. In both cases, the
gap is significantly broader than earlier in the decade.

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE DIGITAL DIVIDE


Economic factors
This distinguishes from developed countries to undeveloped countries. Basically, this means that developed countries
are capable of affording more up to date technology as people in undeveloped countries will own less. Countries such as
UK are known to be developed there for they own more up to date equipment and are able to pay for the technical
expenses. Compared to countries like Sri Lanka will have a tough time affording up to date technology such as UK will be
able to afford fiber optics however Sri Lanka wont be able to. As, Sri Lanka will have to pay money for their daily
expenses and wont have sufficient money for the equipments.

Geographical factors
People in some countries are still not able to afford up to date technology, not because they are cannot afford it or
because they dont have the required skills or knowledge but because of the area they are situated in. people living in
rural areas might not have connection to the internet might be due to poor connection. Many people around the world
live in areas of countries where they are not able to get connected to the modern era because of the lack of
infrastructure. There are still some parts of UK, where broadband connections are still not available due to the area.

Fear of technology
There are some people who dont like technology and some who are technophobic. Some people dont like that fact
that technology keeps on growing because they dont know how it works or how to use one. Instead they prefer things
such as writing letters or reading newspapers basically doing everything the old fashioned way. In the 21st century 1 in 4
of UK has never used the internet. An estimate of 39% of over 65s in the UK doesnt have access and 38% of
unemployed people arent online. People think access to the internet or any technology is a waste of time. People who
have never used any type of technology and using it for the first time will have so much trouble. In order to adapt to the
current era they would have to undergo training.

THE DIGITAL DIVIDE The "digital divide" -- the gap in Internet access and usage due to socioeconomic factors -- is increasin

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