The Digital Divide
What is the digital divide?
The digital divide is the gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the internet, and those who do not due to income and educational differences.
The Smartphone Divide
Smartphone ownership varied by income level, education, and geographic location. More than 80% of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree reported smartphone ownership, compared to just 41%of those who had not completed high school (2015).
Digital Inclusion - A term for the degree of access along a continuum and that described the issue of unequal participation in online activities, rather than complete lack of access for certain groups (Livingstone and Helsper, 2007).
The use of the internet is widespread, however...
Tools to use the current generation of digital learning resources and the knowledge to create content for online distribution is not equal
People from less-privileged backgrounds who lack technology mentors use technology mainly for texting, taking photos, and playing games; activities that do not develop digital skills (Anderson, 2015b)
The ability to create or modify online content still lies out of reach for people that are less privileged, causing the digital divide to grow
Education and the digital divide
Basic internet access in US schools has become more consistent for students from all backgrounds
Clubs and communities with rich technology resources are being created
Infrastructure requirements for the current generation have risen substantially; schools are not yet positioned to close the digital gap
Technology in affluent schools is used differently than less-privileged districts
