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Living in this technological era, knowledge has become increasingly important nowadays. The mass diffusion of technologies across the world had caused people to wonder the potential impact that the technology can bring to us, especially new media. What is digital divide? Many has pondered how it affects our life.
What is Digital Divide?
In general, it refers to the gap between those who have access to digital technologies and those who do not; or the gap between those who use digital technologies and those who do not understood in binary terms distinguishing the “haves” from the “have-nots”. The digital divide shows various distinctions among and within countries. It can also be referred to the gap between individuals, businesses, households, and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels regarding their access to information and communication technologies and their usage of the Internet.
From this, we learnt that people in different region, at different age or even different gender may have different access to digital technologies which is likely lead to digital inequality.
What is Digital Inequality?
It is a refined understanding of the “digital divide” that emphasises a range of inequality across sections of the population depending on differences along numerous dimensions of technology access and use.
The differential spread of the Internet will cause increasing inequalities where those who are already in advantageous positions are benefited and access from those who are underprivileged to better resources are denied. This is called the “Matthew Effect” according to which “unto every one who hath shall be given” whereby initial advantages translate into increasing returns over time.
What to Do?
To prevent digital divide from growing wider, indeed, we need a change from policy so that all the people can be benefited by having access to internet. You cannot just simply giving random people internet access without teaching them how to use it, it is important to educate the illiterate gradually.
Digital inequality should not be left to specialists but should be addressed to social scientists who concerned with a range of outcomes connected to life. As the significance of digital inequalities is clear across a broad range of individual-level and macro-level field, it should be a concern for future researcher.
For more information, you can look through these readings:
Thank you for your sharing. Nice post and this posted have enhanced my knowledge about digital divide.
ReplyDeleteGlad to help you :)
DeleteI believe we still have less understanding about digital divide. Before this, I always think that due to the advancement of technology, everybody is exposed to the usage of Internet or technology. Through this sharing, it starts to inspire me to think differently. No matter how advanced the technology is, there will always be a group of people who do not have chance to be exposed to it. Thank you for the eye-opening sharing!
ReplyDeleteHopefully this article can lessen the miscommunication between generations.
DeleteBefore I read this post, I do not anything about the term "digital divide" and the knowledge behind that. Thanks for kindness to share this information and I think I learn something new and get inspired from your post.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to learn more about digital divide :)
DeleteYour sharing is beneficial. We always interact with people through internet. We overlook the people who do not have the knowledge in using digital technologies.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93VxO6lce5Q i think this video is good in getting more information of digital divide.
Thanks for your video! It's good to know more about it
DeleteThanks for sharing. I have strong attachment to internet and digital devices, but still I never come across with this term - digital divide. Your sharing had enhance more my understanding about digital technologies.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Maybe you can do something to help your grandparents to learn how to use gadgets! :)
DeleteThanks for sharing. I never thought about inequality can occur in digital too.
ReplyDeleteHopefully one day this issue will be solved.
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