AS IT chapter 5

The Digital Divide

The Digital Divide

The digital divide describes the technology gap between countries, demographic groups and
economic areas. The divide that people can experience depends on many factors, including age,
status and location. The digital divide isn’t just limited to internet access; it includes other forms of
modern technology, including telephones, television, computers, and home appliances.

Causes
Location

A person’s geographical location can have an effect on their access to technology. There is a digital
divide between those living in rural areas and those living in urban areas, since urban areas already
have most of the infrastructure in place to provide high-speed broadband services. There is also a
higher concentration of people, meaning that ISPs have a large incentive to develop broadband in
the area. Rural areas are sparsely populated, so ISPs are reluctant to develop broadband in these
locations.

There is also a global digital divide caused by the location factor. The quality and price of internet
connections can differ dramatically from country to country, which can affect the adoption of
technology. Developed countries usually have high-speed, affordable connections, while developing
countries usually don’t. This is usually because less developed countries allocate more financial
resources to other services and there isn’t enough to concentrate on developing technology
services.

Developing countries may find themselves stuck in a vicious cycle; the lack of technology means that
they cannot trade using modern technologies and cannot access the same customer base. This will
also affect the level of education since they won’t have access to the internet as an educational
resource. These consequences could prevent a country from developing further and competing on
an international level.

Income

There is a digital divide between economic classes, since richer people are able to afford access to
high-speed internet connections and expensive devices. Poorer members of society may be unable
to afford these services, which could have an impact on their level of education and ecommerce,
creating a greater divide. An increasing number of companies are transacting online exclusively, and
the inability to access the internet creates a significant divide between rich and poor people.

Age

The digital divide can exist between old and young people, since young people have grown up
surrounded by technology and have become accustomed to it, while the elderly may be reluctant to
learn how to operate modern devices. They may also have no use for modern technology.
Solutions

 Community teaching programmes to teach older people how to use technology.

 Subsidising/gifting devices to children from poor backgrounds.
 Setting up cyber cafes in rural areas.
 Providing overseas aid to countries to purchase technology.
 Setting up affordable 4G connections in rural areas.