scholarly journals The Digital Divide, Editura Polity Press, Cambridge, Regatul Unit, 2020. Jan van Dijk

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-248
Author(s):  
Mirela-Lăcrimioara Cosma
Keyword(s):  
Social Inequality ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Digital Inequality ◽  
Social Division ◽  
Media Technologies ◽  
Digital Devices ◽  
Level Ii ◽  
Digital Skills

The Digital Divide is the result of 25 years of research in the field of digital division. It summarizes the latest studies from access to digital devices (first level of the digital divide), to digital skills and use (level II) and the results/benefits of using or not using digital (level III). The aim of the paper is to clarify the latest concepts on digital inequality and its relationship with social division. Jan van Dijk presents the theories underlying the spread of technology in society and the main directions of approach in recent studies, according to which the use of media technologies reduces social inequality, increases social inequality or has no effect on it.

scholarly journals The Impact of Digitalization on Social Inequality

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108
Author(s):  
Maria A. Yudina
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Inequality ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Digital Economy ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Digital Inequality ◽  
Digital Skills ◽  
Methodological Approaches ◽  
The Impact

The Object of the Study. Modern theoretical and methodological approaches to the assessment of social inequality. The Subject of the Study. Internationally used indicators to assess the digital divide. The Purpose of the Study is analyzing of the theoretical and methodological approaches used in international practice to assess digital inequality in order to find ways to improve the indicators which currently are used in the Rossiyskaya Federatsiya. The Main Provisions of the Article. This author examines the following aspects of the impact of digitalization on Russian society: changes in the availability of information resources for different categories of the population caused by the use of ICT, differentiation in special skills for using ICT, and differences in the dynamics of changes in the quality and standard of living. The process of theoretical and methodological understanding of the phenomenon of digital inequality began in the second half of the XX century. It was initially understood as an economic difference between people in terms of their access to certain technologies, however it gradually gained a more comprehensive conceptualization as a systemic phenomenon: a manifestation of structural social inequality in a network society. Today researchers identify three levels of the digital divide (or steps in its evolution), highlighting the growing role of digital skills as well as social connections, intellectual, motivational and wider – human capital in social stratification. The problem of the inequality between individuals on the matter of using digital skills to improve level and quality of life is exacerbated by Industry 4.0 implementation and realization of the Russian government project of the creation of the digital economy. Analysis of the current Rosstat data from the point of view of three levels of digital inequality showed significant improvements in its first level – every year ICT becomes more accessible for Russians. The increase in the number of users leads to a drop in the average indicators of digital skills proficiency, nevertheless the number of Russians using such technologies to improve their level and quality of life is gradually growing. However, additional work is needed in this direction to make the reduction of third-level inequality a sustainable trend. The analysis of indicators which currently are used in the Rossiyskaya Federatsiya to assess the development of the information society, carried out in the framework of this study, demonstrated their compliance with international standards. The theoretical and methodological problem of the statistical methodology used by The Rosstat was revealed: the current indicators do not allow to reflect the correlation between the employment of the population and it’s level of the digital skills. Therefore the indicators currently used in Russiya for digital divide evaluation do not allow to access the readiness of the population to the transition period between industrial revolutions which are always accompanied by the primary wave of technological unemployment in the process of creative destruction of social and economic systems. The Russian state program «Digital Economy» had the strategic target «to launch a regular monitoring to identify the needs of different groups of the working population in the formation of digital economy competencies with the involvement of employers» by June 2019. However checking of the governmental sites of the authorities, who are responsible for the implementation of the mentioned monitoring showed that it is still not ready or just doesn’t accessible for general public.

scholarly journals Entre a inclusão e a democracia digital: a atuação do Estado e do terceiro setor em comunidades pobres da região metropolitana do Recife | Between digital inclusion and digital democracy

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonatas Ferreira ◽  
Maria Eduarda Da Mota Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Social Inequality ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Social Life ◽  
General Public ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Empty Space ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Digital Inequality ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
Digital Democracy

Resumo A acumulação histórica de capitais econômicos e culturais vem determinando padrões diferenciados de acesso à revolução informacional. Em geral, esse problema tem sido tratado pelas políticas públicas a partir de uma série de conceitos que convergem para as idéias polares de ‘exclusão’ e ‘inclusão digital’. A partir dessa perspectiva, a solução do problema da desigualdade se apresenta como um percurso que os atores precisam fazer de um lugar vazio, de uma tabula rasa, para outro de prosperidade, numa clara atualização da visão dos atores em posição subalterna como seres faltantes.  Recentemente, surgiu uma proposta de estimular a democratização das tecnologias digitais não como forma de simplesmente suprir uma falta, mas como estratégia de empoderamento. Apesar disso, não há consenso com relação ao modo como a desigualdade digital deve ser tratada, se a partir de investimentos visando à inclusão, se a partir de investimentos que capacitem camadas pobres da população a interferir na vida social em sentido amplo. Com base em pesquisa realizada em 8 instituições, mapeamos iniciativas de inclusão digital e analisamos como essas duas visões se traduzem em sua prática.Palavras-chave inclusão digital; democracia; desigualdadeAbstract The historical accumulation of economic and cultural capitals has been determining unequal patterns of access to the informational revolution. In general, public policies deal with this problem by recurring to concepts that converge to the polar ideas of “digital divide” and “digital inclusion”. From this perspective, the solution to the problem of social inequality is presented as the trajectory that social actors need to undertake from an empty space, from a tabula rasa, to another of prosperity – a clear actualization of the perception of social actors in a subaltern position as lacking beings. More recently, a proposal for stimulating the democratization of ICTs has emerged, that is, not simply intending to fill in a gap, but sustaining the necessity to develop strategies of empowerment. Despite this, there is no agreement on how digital inequality has to be dealt with, whether by investments aiming at social inclusion, or by investments that would enable poor layers of the population to intervene in social life in a broader sense. Based on interviews in 8 institutions, this paper maps out initiatives of digital inclusion and analyzes how these two views are translated in practice.Keywords digital inclusion; democracy; inequality;

Digital Inequality Among States at an European Level

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Social Phenomenon ◽  
European Level ◽  
Digital Inequality ◽  
The Past ◽  
Digital Divides ◽  
Digital Skills ◽  
The Web

For the past twenty-five years, digital inequalities have been analyzed by several scholars. Many empirical studies have shaped a theoretical framework that identifies three main digital divides. However, most of the scientific contributions have been focusing on digital inequalities within countries, leaving inequalities among countries behind. This paper aims at analyzing what kind of digital inequalities emerge among European countries, focusing on the trends that characterized Europe in the last decade, to consider whether some of the main elements of the digital divide literature replicate at the continental level. The paper analyzes secondary data, mainly retrieved from Eurostat. It emerges that inequalities in digital skills and use of the Web persist in Europe, and some of the trends that scholars found among individuals are identifiable among countries as well. These findings contribute to the description of digital inequalities, a social phenomenon not so deeply studied at the continental level.

scholarly journals E-Government and Digital Inequality

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Stefano De Marco
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Digital Citizenship ◽  
Digital Inequality ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Digital Divides ◽  
Digital Skills ◽  
Two Factors

The second level digital divide is generated by a combination of two factors. Firstly, the adoption of advantageous internet uses is strongly related to internet users’ material and educational resources. The higher the level of these resources, the higher the probability that advantageous internet uses will be adopted. Secondly, internet users’ offline resources have an influence on their digital skills. On the other hand, and according to the third level digital divide, advantageous internet use in not beneficial per se. In order to obtain tangible benefits from it, an adequate level of digital skills is required. In this paper, the Spanish case is used to study second and third level digital divides in relation to e-government. Results show the importance of educational and online resources, as well as higher levels of digital skills, in enhancing the probability of being able to use the internet to interact with the public administration and with government agencies. These results raise important questions in terms of digital citizenship and the democratic divide

Wzbogacona rzeczywistość a nierówności społeczne

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-93
Author(s):  
Piotr Nieradka ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Inequality ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Augmented Reality Technology ◽  
Digital Gap ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

This paper focuses on the technology of extended reality, whereby the aim is to draw attention to selected issues related to technology and solutions in the extended reality area in the context of social inequalities. The first part of the article discusses the essence of extended reality technology, paying attention to its place in the modern economy, along with a description of such solutions. The remainder of the study focuses on the issue of social inequality, with particular emphasis on the impact of extended reality on the problem of the digital gap and digital divide. The article presents the results of original research undertaken on a group of 88 respondents with both CAWI and equipment supporting augmented reality technology, of which 39.36% declared testing with this type of equipment in the past. The article also presents the results of original research with the use of XR equipment. XR-related solutions are currently still perceived as luxury goods, despite both the increasing availability for users and undoubtedly unique advantages. These include realism of generated experiences and the phenomenon of immersion in the synthetic world. The analysis of the role of such solutions in the context of social inequality provides a conclusion about their dichotomous nature. On the one hand, by popularizing the XR technology, the possibility of overcoming barriers and inequalities resulting from individual characteristics or social position is created, which leads to the improvement in the life situations of some people who have been struggling with exclusion so far. On the other hand, it provides the conclusion that such advanced technology entering everyday life has the potential to create another digital divide, which in the long term will result in increasing digital disproportions and exclusion.

The digital divide in individual e-commerce utilization in China

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shizhan Zhu ◽  
Juan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Digital Inequality ◽  
Urban Inequality ◽  
First Order ◽  
Gender Education ◽  
Residency Status ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
Using Data ◽  
And Migration

Using data from a national survey with 1,288 respondents, this study investigates the socio-demographic determinants of the first-order digital divide (access to the Internet) and the second-order digital divide (e-commerce use) in China. The survey employed spatial probability sampling technology so it would encompass migrants as well as registered residents. Multiple logistic regressions were applied to model the associations between access to the Internet/e-commerce use and demographic characteristics, socio-economic attributes, and migration and residency status. The results demonstrate the significant effects of rural-urban inequality and socio-economic divisions in Internet access. Age, gender, education, and residency were identified as significant predictors for individual e-commerce use. The findings provide helpful information for enterprises wishing to broaden their business horizons. The research can also be used in designing effective policies to reduce China’s digital inequality.

scholarly journals An Intergenerational Information and Communications Technology Learning Project to Improve Digital Skills: User Satisfaction Evaluation

JMIR Aging ◽  
10.2196/13939 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. e13939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesc López Seguí ◽  
Marc de San Pedro ◽  
Eva Aumatell Verges ◽  
Salvador Simó Algado ◽  
Francesc Garcia Cuyàs
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
Technology Learning ◽  
Digital Skills ◽  
Satisfaction Evaluation

Background “Digital Partners” is an intergenerational information and communications technology learning project carried out in the municipalities of Vic and Centelles (Catalonia) from April to May 2018. Within the framework of the introduction of community service as a subject in secondary education, the Centre for Health and Social Studies (University of Vic) created a training space with 38 intergenerational partners (aged 14-15 years and >65 years), with the aim of improving the senior users’ digital skills in terms of use of smartphones and tablets, thus helping reduce the digital divide in the territory. Objective The aim of this paper is to evaluate the satisfaction of both junior and senior participants toward the intervention and to explore its main drivers. Methods Participants who volunteered to participate in the study were interviewed. Quantitative and qualitative data gathered in paper-based ad hoc surveys were used to assess participants’ satisfaction. Results The experience shows a broad satisfaction of both junior and senior users. The project’s strengths include the format of working in couples; randomly pairing individuals by operating system; the ability to practice with the device itself; individuals’ free choice to decide what they wish to learn, develop, or practice; and the availability of voluntary practice material that facilitates communication and learning. With regard to aspects that could be improved, there is a need to review the timetabling flexibility of meetings to avoid hurrying the elderly and to extend the project’s duration, if necessary. Conclusions This activity can serve to create mutual learning through the use of mobile devices and generate security and motivation on the part of the seniors, thus reducing the digital divide and improving social inclusion.

Conclusion

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dillon Mahoney
Keyword(s):  
Social Inequality ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Fair Trade ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
World Today ◽  
Ethnic Networks ◽  
The World ◽  
Culture Brokers ◽  
Africa Rising

The art of connection concludes with a discussion of what the experiences of Kenyan traders and culture brokers can tell us about globalization, development, and digital-power divides today. As the application of a Fair Trade sticker obfuscates complex economic realities, talking strictly of a digital divide in Kenya distracts attention from the historical formation of social inequality and masks the actions of certain powerful political, corporate, and development elites. Despite the hype for “Africa Rising,” ethnic and political tensions remain important. But the stories in this book are also optimistic and about innovation and tenacity. They also demonstrate that ethnic networks and the Kenyan government alike have the potential to bring security rather than insecurity. While connecting to the global economy comes with all types of new risks, new ethical branding and NGO aesthetics help Kenyans produce a sense of trust and transparency that is otherwise lacking and, therefore, central to maintaining Africa’s connection to the rest of the world today.

Establishing the Human Dimension of the Digital Divide

2011 ◽  
pp. 23-47
Author(s):  
Helen Partridge
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Human Dimension ◽  
San Jose ◽  
Digital Inequality ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Precise Understanding ◽  
The Social

This chapter will explore the human dimension of the digital divide. It argues that existing digital divide research takes primarily a socio-economic perspective and that few studies have considered the social, psychological or cultural barriers that may contribute to digital inequality within community. This chapter will discuss an ongoing research project that explores the psychological factors that contribute to the digital divide. Using the Social Cognitive Theory, the research examines the Internet self-efficacy of Internet users and non-users in Brisbane, Australia and San Jose, California, USA. Developing a psychological perspective of the digital divide will expand current understanding of a phenomenon that has far reaching social and economic implications. It will allow a more precise understanding of what is and who represents the digital divide in community. Organisations who are involved in bridging the digital divide will be better placed to develop strategies and programs that can more effectively narrow the gap between ICT “haves” and “have-nots”.

Establishing the Human Dimension of the Digital Divide

2008 ◽  
pp. 3520-3531
Author(s):  
Helen Partridge
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Human Dimension ◽  
San Jose ◽  
Digital Inequality ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Precise Understanding ◽  
The Social

This chapter will explore the human dimension of the digital divide. It argues that existing digital divide research takes primarily a socio-economic perspective and that few studies have considered the social, psychological or cultural barriers that may contribute to digital inequality within community. This chapter will discuss an ongoing research project that explores the psychological factors that contribute to the digital divide. Using the Social Cognitive Theory, the research examines the Internet self-efficacy of Internet users and non-users in Brisbane, Australia and San Jose, California, USA. Developing a psychological perspective of the digital divide will expand current understanding of a phenomenon that has far reaching social and economic implications. It will allow a more precise understanding of what is and who represents the digital divide in community. Organisations who are involved in bridging the digital divide will be better placed to develop strategies and programs that can more effectively narrow the gap between ICT “haves” and “have-nots”.

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