Digital Divide Flashcards
(7 cards)
What is the digital divide?
It’s the divide between those who have ready access to the internet and digital technologies, and those who don’t. The new media has created a division between groups in society which are class, gender, generations, and the world globally.
What is the class divide?
Different social classes have different experiences of new media because of affordability and access to new media.
What are some statistics that support the social class divide?
•80% of the richest households in England have internet access compared to only 11% of the poorest households.
• 6% of UK families struggle with broadband costs and 5% couldn’t afford mobile phones.
What did Helpser (2011) say about the social class divide?
Despite this narrowing of the class divide, a digital underclass - characterised by unemployment , lower education levels and low digital skills does exist in the UK.
What are some statistics that suggest the class divide is closing?
• ONS - 99% of households with children now have access to internet in some way.
• ONS - 93% of all UK households have internet access, up from 70% a decade ago.
What is the gender divide?
Li and Kirkup (2007) found significant gender differences between men and women in the UK in their use of new media.
What did Boyle (2007) suggest about the generational divide?
He notes that new media is often associated with young people and so therefore there is a generational divide in terms of how people use the media. Different age groups use and have differing views on technology and new media.
