Digital Divide

Digital Divide:

The Gap Between the Individual, Social Class and Education

Matthew Taylor

27 October, 2015

IFSM 304: Homework 1

In society today, the internet is being used in almost all parts of the known world, and its use is continuing to grow at an accelerated rate daily. Even in third world countries such as India, the Philippines and countries in Africa have established connectivity on their own in on aspect or another. But an issue, known as the digital divide, described as the gap between individuals who have internet connectivity and those that do not, is seen throughout society despite technology advancing every day. In an article written by Neil Selwyn entitled, “Reconsidering Political and Popular Understandings of the Digital Divide,” he stated that, “The use of information and communications technology (ICT) is seen by many commentators as underpinning the social and economic progression of nation-states throughout the first stages of the 21st century.” (Selwyn 2001: 342). With technology advancing every day, governments from around the world have been attempting to implement some sort of connectivity in order to be able to compete in the global economy, and also bridging the gap between inequality and social divisions. Even though, eventually technology is going to be prevalent throughout society for days to come, many people still question how important it is to have internet access. With information dominating the world today, there still is a digital divide throughout different societies; thus, prosing the question: Is internet access essential for individuals to have in order to progress socially and educationally within the social spectrum?

According to Jan A.G.M. van Dijk in an article entitled, “Digital Divide Research, Achievements and Shortcomings,” she states that, “At the time of writing (2005) I would estimate from all the available statistics that there is still a gap of about 50% between the highest and the lowest social...