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6 The digital divide
Before starting this chapter you should:
+ be familiar with the terms ‘hardware’, ‘software’, ‘broadband’, ‘the
internet’ and ‘wi-fi’.
We often take the use of the internet for granted. Most adults use the internet
for everyday activities such as online banking and online shopping. Most young
people use the internet for social media purposes. Many of us use the internet in
one way or another and would be quite upset if we did not have fast access, such
as good broadband. However, not everybody, for whatever reason, has access to,
or perhaps wishes to use, the internet. There is said to be a divide between those
that cannot, or will not, use the internet and those who can.
6.1 What is the digital divide?
The term digital divide relates to the gap between those people who are able
to access modern technology and information and those with restricted or no
access. It can be defined as the gap between people who have access to and use
telephones, television, personal computers and the internet, and those who do not.
Even among those who have access to these technologies, a divide can also exist
because of the availability of high and low performance computers and wireless
connections. In many parts of the world where people struggle to gain access
to the use of computers, schools have been provided with low-cost refurbished
computers from organisations based in more developed countries, particularly
the USA. Unfortunately, these often tend to be lower specification models and
these countries, though catching up, still tend to lag behind developed nations
in their development of IT.
When the phrase was first used, the digital divide just referred to the use
of computers, but more recently it has been extended to include the use
of telecommunications and broadband or internet. Many people who use
smartphones to access the internet, for example, would benefit from the use of
wi-fi hotspots in order to not have to pay high data charges. The absence of
wi-fi hotspots can markedly reduce their opportunities for using the internet.
The digital divide can be caused by an inability of certain groups to access
hardware or software, or indeed both hardware and software. It can also be
caused by individuals lacking the required skills to use the technology. The
In this chapter you will learn:
+ what the digital divide is
+ thecausesandeffectsofthedigitaldivide
+ thegroupsofpeopleaffectedbythedigital
divide
+ about reducing the effects of the digital
divide.
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6
groups of people who do not have such access include those people living in
rural areas, the less educated, the elderly, the poor, and people who live in less
industrially developed or technologically aware countries.
A survey published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the United
Kingdom in 2018 showed that 5.3 million Britons have either never gone online
or have not used the internet in the last three months. This number has reduced
markedly since 2011, but this still amounts to about 10% of the adult UK
population. A graph demonstrating this trend is shown below.
0
5
10
15
20
25
4.8
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
6.0
7.2
8.4
9.6
10.8
Adults not using the internet
Number of adults
Percentage of adults
Key
Number of adults (millions)
Percentage of adults
The ONS report also referred to The Tech Partnership Basic Digital Skills
framework, which describes five basic digital skills that can be used to measure
digital inclusion and the activities someone should be able to carry out to
demonstrate each skill. To be considered to have a digital skill, individuals need
to be able to carry out one of the activities listed under it, as outlined below.
1 Managing information: using a search engine to look for information;
finding a website visited before; downloading or saving a photo found online.
2 Communicating: sending a personal message via email or online messaging
service; carefully making comments and sharing information online.
3 Transacting: buying items or services from a website; buying and installing
apps on a device.
4 Problem solving: verifying sources of information online; solving a problem
with a device or digital service using online help.
5 Creating: completing online application forms including personal details;
creating something new from existing online images, music or video.
The report also referred to The Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Index 2018 which
uses this framework to estimate the digital skills of the UK population. It
estimated that the number of people in the UK lacking basic digital skills was
declining. Despite this, in 2018, there was still a substantial proportion of
people in the UK who were thought to have no basic digital skills (and were
unable to do all or any of the activities described in the five basic digital skills).
6.2 Causes and effects of the digital divide
At this point, it may be useful to consider the word infrastructure . We often
hear phrases such as ‘the infrastructure in rural areas is not as good as in urban
areas’. What do we mean? The term infrastructure in an information technology
(IT) context refers to the hardware, software and equipment used to provide IT
services. This could include the installation of electrical cables to enable the supply
of electricity, the installation of fibre optic cable for high-speed broadband, the
installation of mobile (cell) phone masts, the installation of Fixed Wireless Access
(FWA) Units and even the launching of satellites for the supply of broadband.
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In rural areas this infrastructure may be lacking. This is also likely to be the case
in less developed countries. That may be due to the cost of such systems.
6.2.1 Geography
Geographical causes for the digital divide are visible both locally as well as
worldwide. The IT infrastructure can vary between countries and between
different areas within the same country.
Often, less economically developed countries (LEDCs) lack effective
infrastructure when compared to more economically developed countries
(MEDCs). This may be because MEDCs have more technology because of
their greater wealth. An example is how the UK compares to a country such as
Pakistan, which is an LEDC. In the UK an estimated 94.6% of the population
use the internet, compared to 35.0% of the population of Pakistan.
Similar divides can sometimes be seen within countries, such as Italy for
example. The people who live in the northern half are generally wealthier
compared with those who live in the southern regions. As a result, they tend to
have greater access to IT technologies.
Another geographical cause for the digital divide within individual countries
relates not to lack of money, but location. In Russia, for example, there is a
noticeable number of people who live in areas which do not have internet
access. Northern parts of Russia are close to mountain ranges and it is difficult
to provide the necessary IT requirements such as optical fibre to these areas,
because of problems building such resources under mountains. Providers are
much more interested in providing facilities for people living in the more densely
populated areas, which are easier to supply and will provide more profit.
A similar divide can be seen in the UK, where living in certain areas means that
you are less likely to have access to the required infrastructure. This is certainly
true of the more rural parts of the country, where technologies such as 5G, or
even 4G, or fibre optic internet are not available. Again, this is often because
suppliers of the technology tend to focus more on the more densely populated
urban areas.
6.2.2FearofIT
Another cause of the digital divide is the fear of IT, caused either through
lack of education in IT skills and knowledge, or because of age, since older
individuals are simply less likely to be familiar with IT. IT is meant to make
our lives easier, but sometimes it actually makes them more difficult. As IT
devices become more sophisticated, they tend to become harder to use and
learn about. Therefore, some people fear them. They believe that, when asked
to use computers, telephone systems, or even ATMs, they might have to learn
and understand sets of complicated instructions. Most people do find the
instructions fairly easy to follow once they can be persuaded to try, but some do
not. This can be particularly true of older individuals, who may find any type of
change unsettling.
6.2.3 Economics
A third cause of the digital divide is economic factors. The wealth of the
user will affect their ability to access IT technologies. As technological
advances are made, every new innovation tends to be more expensive than
its predecessor, at least in the short term. This means that the richer you are,
the easier it is to have access to new IT technologies. It is in the interest of
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IT companies to create new innovations since they can sell these to people
who are better paid, thereby making more money. There is little incentive
to develop solutions that would be suitable for poorer people, because this
would not result in the same level of profit. As a consequence, developments
which are produced for the poorer members of society tend to be at a very
basic level and are less likely to increase their IT skills, resulting in a widening
rather than a narrowing of the divide. It is generally acknowledged that
factors such as income affect whether people use IT in general and, more
specifically, gain the skills needed to make effective use of the internet.
6.2.4 Disability
A fourth cause is having a disability that limits some people’s use of IT.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 15% of the world’s
population lives with some form of disability. That means that a large number
of people may be unable to access IT if it has not been designed with everyone
in mind. Generally, studies and research have shown that people with disabilities
do not access the internet as much as the rest of society. We will look at some
examples in more depth later in this chapter.
6.3 Groups affected by the digital divide
As a result of the causes above, the digital divide exists between the following
groups of people:
»
people who live in cities and those in rural areas
»
more and less industrially developed or technologically aware nations
»
well educated people and less well educated people
»
older people and younger people
» rich people and poor people
»
people with disabilities and the non-disabled.
6.3.1Peopleincitiesandpeopleinruralareas
In its 2017 Digital Strategy, the UK government acknowledged that ‘broadband
and mobile must be treated as the fourth utility, with everyone benefitting from
improved connectivity’. The other three utilities are gas, water and electricity.
These tend to be available in many UK rural areas, yet broadband is not. Similarly,
in 2018, the National Infrastructure Commission, the government’s independent
advisor on the UK’s infrastructure needs, stated that digital connectivity was now
‘an essential utility, as central to the UK’s society and economy as electricity or
water supply’. Poor digital connectivity in rural areas therefore has far reaching
consequences for communities, economies and businesses.
In the USA, rural Americans have made large gains in adopting digital
technology over the past decade, but they generally remain less likely than
adults living in urban areas to have home broadband or own a smartphone.
The percentage of Americans living in rural areas who have a broadband
internet connection at home doubled between 2007 and 2018, according
to the findings of a Pew Research Center survey carried out in early 2019
(the Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan Amerian think-tank based in
Washington, DC; it provides information on social issues, public opinion,
and demographic trends shaping the USA and the world). The proportion,
however, was still only two-thirds of the population, a full 12% fewer than
other Americans. The graphs below demonstrate this.
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Home broadband
100
80
60
40
20
0
‘00 ‘19
79%
Suburban
63%
Rural
0%
1%
1%
75%
Urban
Smartphone
‘00 ‘19
‘11
83
71
21
38
37
83
Percentage of American adults who say they have …
Tablet
‘00 ‘19
‘10
58
49
1
49
4
3
Desktop/laptop
computer
‘00 ‘19
‘08
80
69
61
73
73
78
%
In a recent BBC report, it was revealed that in 2019 India had more than 630
million internet subscribers, the second largest number of internet users in a
single country. Indeed, the number of internet users in India is larger than the
total populations of Brazil, Germany, Russia and Egypt put together. But for
every Indian who had access to the internet, there was at least one who did not,
and that person was most likely living in a rural area. In rural areas, 25% of the
population used the internet compared with 98% in urban areas.
There are a number of factors making it difficult for people living in rural areas to
take advantage of the latest technological developments. The three we will discuss
here are the low populations of rural areas, the potentially challenging geographical
features of rural areas, and the limited commercial potential for communications
companies in installing the necessary infrastructure in these areas.
It is possible to get broadband anywhere there is a phone line. However, in
order to obtain broadband that can reach fast speeds, a slightly more advanced
infrastructure is required. This is fairly easy in urban areas; it is straightforward
to dig up roads in order to install cables and a single fibre-connected cabinet in
one street can connect several houses. However, in remote rural areas, because
there are fewer houses and those houses tend to be further apart, people are
further away from a single cabinet than would be the case in a more urban area.
This means longer cables have to be used, which means slower speeds.
It can also be very difficult to lay fibre cables in rural areas as a result of
geographical features. India, for example, has remote mountainous areas, thinly
populated deserts and dense areas of forest, all of which make it difficult to install
the necessary infrastructure. Any infrastructure that already exists tends to use
a lower level of technology, making it difficult to install high-speed broadband.
To improve the infrastructure costs a lot of money and broadband companies are
reluctant to invest such sums for so few customers. For users who get broadband
using the telephone network, the actual speed they achieve depends on how much
of their connection uses copper phone lines. The further a signal has to travel over
these lines, the weaker it becomes. So, where people live affects the speed.
Broadband providers will only install high-technology solutions where it is
economically viable. So, while towns and cities might have a number of providers
competing to persuade potential users to use their equipment, rural areas might
only have one or two, and the most remote areas none. In urban areas, a given
length of cable might pass dozens, or even hundreds, of homes and businesses.
Rural broadband requires greater cable lengths as well as signal-boosting
equipment and there are fewer potential customers from whom companies can
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6
retrieve the costs. All this makes companies less willing to invest in infrastructure.
When they do, the extra costs incurred by providers are passed on to the customers.
To sum up, slow broadband speed is usually influenced by three main factors.
These are how far the home is from the phone exchange, the level of technology
used at the phone exchange and the amount of competition there is among
broadband providers.
What are the alternatives to broadband for people living in rural areas? There
are a number of different options apart from cable, but they can be very
expensive and many people who live in these areas might be in jobs which
donot pay very large salaries. Wireless technologies are available, such as satellite
broadband, short-distance radio links and mobile-phone broadband. Satellite
broadband is technically available anywhere in a country. However, it tends to
be slower and, again, more expensive than cabled broadband connections. The
quality of connection can also be affected by bad weather. Radio connections
vary a lot between areas. Fixed wireless requires customers to be within line
of sight of a service tower. Speeds can, however, be very fast. Another type of
wireless broadband is already widely available and that is through the use of
smartphones. Many people have higher-speed connections at home and use
mobile data on the move. However, this depends on the number of towers in
the area and in rural areas there do not tend to be very many.
Activity 6a
1 Give three reasons why people living in rural areas tend to have less access
to broadband.
2 List three alternatives to cable-based broadband which people in rural areas
might use.
6.3.2 More and less industrially developed or
technologically aware nations
As well as the digital divide at the national level, there is a divide between
countries. This is often called the
global digital divide. There has always been
a large gap between developing countries that perform poorly economically
and the so-called developed countries that perform strongly. Unfortunately, the
global digital divide can cause the economic divide to widen.
Some countries feel that they cannot afford to invest heavily in technology
as they need to improve education, increase access to healthcare and increase
job opportunities. However, the investment by governments in IT and
communications technologies can both generate jobs and provide greater access
to better health services and education.
A report published in late October 2018 by the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development said that by the end of the next decade (2029), growth,
productivity gains, and human development will be determined by levels of
integration into the digital economy. It also warned that to guard against
new forms of inequality, the international community must do more to help
developing countries close the connectivity gap.
Let us look at just one aspect of the use of IT in commerce: online shopping.
It becomes apparent from the UN report that developing countries experience
several advantages. It uses as an example Tuvalu, a tiny island in the South
Pacific. It has fewer than ten streets that have names in the capital Funafuti and
only about a hundred homes have a postal address. The report stated that even if
everyone in Tuvalu had access to the internet, the delivery of goods which were
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purchased online would be difficult. In actual fact, the World Bank records that
only 13% of the country’s population had broadband in 2016.
In other parts of the world, too, billions of people do not have bank accounts and
credit cards, severely limiting their ability to buy goods online. In addition, it is
often the case that in many developing countries, goods bought using the internet
are not covered by consumer-protection laws. Unlike developing countries, nations
with the most developed economies tend to have efficient postal and parcel-delivery
systems, and most have laws which protect the consumer when buying goods online.
It is envisaged by the UN that by the end of the 2020s, economic growth will
be governed to a large degree by information technology. In order for countries
to flourish, people will have to acquire new skills and knowledge. It will be
necessary and vital that the digital divide is closed particularly as where more
than half the world’s population has limited or no access to the internet.
Countries that have widespread access to the internet and, more specifically
broadband, can trade with other countries far more easily than those who do not.
Access to the internet, and IT in general, is an utmost part of modern education.
Consequently, nations where people only have limited access to these technologies,
and the benefits they can bring to education, will be unable to compete effectively
in the global economy. This leads us into the next section about the digital divide
between better educated individuals and those less well educated
Activity 6b
Using an example provided in the text, explain why opening up the online
shopping market to people in developing countries might not be an attractive
proposition to large supermarkets.
6.3.3 The educated and the uneducated
Uneducated people can be considered to be those who have not gained many
educational qualifications. This restricts their chances of getting a well-paid job
unless they are very lucky. Because of this, they have to work in lower-paying
jobs, such as performing labour in construction or agriculture. Educated people
earn more money throughout their lifetime leading to a higher quality of life.
Uneducated people tend not to earn enough to provide for their families which
pushes them deeper into poverty, making it less likely that they will invest in IT
equipment or services.
An important factor that contributes to the digital divide is an individual’s level
of educational achievement and the related use of IT in schools and classrooms.
Another factor is the divide that exists between educational establishments. In
other words, inequalities in digital literacy can be considerable between schools
that have a lot of IT equipment and fast broadband and use IT across the
curriculum, and schools that do not.
It is generally thought that the digital divide amongst people still exists because
uneducated people do not understand the importance of the internet in their
everyday lives. In a number of areas, particularly urban areas, the problem of
providing cheap internet access has been overcome. Why is it, then, that a divide
still exists within cities? Convincing less well-educated people that using the
internet is beneficial is the real challenge for those who wish to narrow this
divide. In the USA, the 2017 National Telecommunications and Information
Administration report stated ‘the percentage of respondents who say they don’t
have broadband at home because they have “no need” or “no interest” reached
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6
almost 60%, nearly double the percentage who consistently gave that response
from 2003 to 2009’.
Activity 6c
Briefly describe two factors that contribute to the digital divide between well
educated people and less well educated people.
6.3.4Theoldandtheyoung
Older generations tend to lack confidence when it comes to using IT, as they
were not brought up being exposed to it constantly like the younger generations.
Because they lack confidence, a “fear” is developed, making them likely to avoid
this technology. This leads to a digital divide being created between the old and
the young.
This divide is increased because IT businesses wish to make large profits. This
results in them concentrating on the larger groups of consumers. Consequently,
new technologies tend to be aimed at younger people with very few modifications
made to help older people use them more easily. One example is newer
smartphones. Older people tend to be less dexterous with their hands and fingers
which makes these devices more difficult for them to use than they are for younger
people. In addition, young people seek new skills because they might become
relevant later in life. However, as people grow older, they tend to focus on what
seems to matter today. They are more likely to concentrate on friendships and
being emotionally involved with others rather than spending time on machines.
As a consequence, many older people may not see the point of using computers for
social networking.
German studies on the digital divide have shown that it may be too simplistic to
maintain that the digital divide exists only between the younger and the older
generations. Other factors, such as gender, education and socio–economic status,
come into play. They also suggest that internet usage amongst the elderly is
increasing but will continue to be less than that of younger users. Optimists could
suggest that the increase in the number of elderly internet users would seem to
indicate that the number of non–users will reduce and eventually reach zero. This,
however, is doubtful as the type and number of obstacles against the increasing
use amongst the elderly will still persist. It does not seem to be a priority for the
developers of modern IT devices that older people find it very difficult to use
tiny smartphones or that they have difficulty interpreting icons. A large number
of elderly people find it difficult to read text on a screen or use a keyboard due to
visual impairments or other physical handicaps.
Older adults tend to use well-established technologies and are slower at accepting
new ones. It is generally accepted that the older generation are less inclined to use
recent technologies compared with the younger generation.
Recent French studies showed that less than one in ten adults aged over 80
used the internet. As the age of the users reduced the percentage of them using
the internet gradually increased and of those aged under thirty almost 100 per
cent were internet users. In the German studies it was seen that elderly people
would only accept a new technological development after seeing that it had been
successfully used by others and they could see clear benefits for themselves.
The ONS report mentioned earlier in this chapter showed that take-up of IT usage
is slowest among older people and lower-income households. Its research showed
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more than half of over-50s had not used a computer in the past three months,
compared with 13 per cent of people aged 16 to 30.
Activity 6d
Describe the reasons why older people tend to be reluctant to use new technologies.
6.3.5 Socioeconomic groups (rich and poor)
Companies that produce hardware and software for computers used in the home
have good reason to make further developments; selling new updated products
leads to them making bigger profits. These products, however, can only be
bought by those people who can afford them and this is obviously easier to do
for rich people. There is no need for companies to develop systems and products
that would be suitable for the poor because they would not make the same level
of profit from them. As a result, those systems and products that are for poorer
people tend to be less advanced, which means the people who buy these cheaper
products and systems do not get the opportunity to increase their IT skills and
knowledge. This state of affairs highlights two aspects of the digital divide,
the gulf between rich and poor people and between those that have a good
understanding and those that do not.
It is generally accepted that factors such as income affect whether people use
IT in general and more specifically gain the skills to take advantage of using
the internet. As household income increases, the level of basic digital skills also
increases. The digital divide between rich and poor people still persists despite
technological developments making devices more affordable and internet access
seeming to be increasingly universal. Most research suggests that rich people are
still more likely than poor people to have good access to digital resources. In a
report published in May 2019, the Pew Research Center found that in the USA,
roughly 29% of people with household incomes of less than $30 000 a year did
not own a smartphone, 44% did not have broadband services, 46% did not own
a traditional computer, and the majority of low-income Americans were not
tablet owners. This compares with all these technologies being present among
most households earning $100 000 or more per year.
Many people in poverty, often in less economically developed countries, simply
cannot afford to own a computer or the cost of a broadband connection.
Activity 6e
Explain why IT companies may have contributed to the digital divide between
high- and low-income earners.
6.3.6Peoplewithdisabilities
People with disabilities have specific needs and have been disadvantaged for a
long time regarding IT, despite it having the potential to improve their lives.
People with physical disabilities that affect movement of the hands, for example,
are unable to use a touchscreen, mouse, or keyboard effectively; they need
devices which are much easier to control. Unfortunately, many of these devices
can be expensive to purchase. Another group of people who similarly experience
a digital divide through the lack of access to personal devices and the internet
are those with hearing or visual impairments.
Let us take Kenya as an example. Its constitution outlaws discrimination on
the grounds of disability. It requires that a person with a disability (PWD) is
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entitled to treatment with respect and dignity, is able to access educational
institutions and facilities, has reasonable access to all places, public transport
and information, and can access materials and devices, including for
communications. Kenya’s National ICT Policy of 2016 outlines strategies for
‘an accessible ICT environment in the country in order to enable persons with
disabilities to take full advantage of ICTs’.
However, Judy Okite, founder of the Association for Accessibility and Equality,
claims that many of the digital accessibility strategies outlined in the 2016 policy
remained unfulfilled. While Kenya’s government is making significant steps
to move its services online, the platforms are not favourable to those who are
visually impaired. ‘Are we widening the digital divide by moving our services
online? Is ICT recognised as an enabler for PWD in Kenya?’ she asked.
In her opinion, ‘the digital divide is growing bigger for persons with
disabilities’. Research she was part of in 2018 showed that computers in some
learning institutions had not been replaced for several years, the required
software was not installed or was out of date, and staff managing the labs were
not trained to teach users.
Activity 6f
Describe how people with disabilities have difficulties with new technology.
6.4 The effects of the digital divide
The effects of the digital divide include inequality of access to all types of internet
services. The word ‘service’ here is open to interpretation. It can mean the major
services provided by the internet, such as email, the world wide web, video
conferencing, instant messaging, VoIP and other resources which the internet
makes it easier to access. For the purpose of this book, we will concentrate on the
services which are provided by the world wide web, although, where appropriate,
reference will be made to video conferencing and email.
6.4.1 Health
There is a vast amount of information on the world wide web relating to health.
Many countries have health-based websites. These websites tend to contain
details about medicines together with information about common illnesses
and how to treat them. Some will simply recommend a visit to the doctor or
hospital. If it is a minor illness, a website may advise individuals how to treat it
themselves. Many doctors have their own websites through which patients can
book an appointment, receive reminders by text on their smartphone and order
prescriptions. Individuals are also able to buy medicines from private websites.
Unfortunately, however, these services can only be accessed by individuals with
the necessary IT equipment, such as a PC, laptop or tablet with broadband, or a
smartphone. Other reasons why such services may not be available to individuals
include cost, remoteness (lack of signal) or lack of electricity supply.
It is not just the introduction of online services which has benefited people.
There are more general uses of IT in medicine, with many hospitals now using
online portable computer systems. X-rays can be accessed digitally and patients’
health charts are now available on computers which are transported on trolleys
to the patient’s bedside. These computers are used by nurses to record the
patient’s pulse rate, temperature and blood pressure. Unfortunately, not all
hospitals can afford the new technology. Some doctors working from home
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can access patient records on their own computers, but if they live in a rural
area where broadband connections are poor or non-existent, such access may
be limited. It is likely that patients in a more affluent urban society are likely to
benefit more from such systems.
Activity 6g
Give three reasons why people may not be able to access health websites.
6.4.2 Education
Most schools these days have access to IT equipment and the digital divide in
education is more likely to depend on the quality of broadband available. The divide
between rich and poor schools has, in many countries, been reduced by governments
providing money to the poorer schools in order to improve broadband access.
Students today are required to have a new academic literacy, different to that which
was needed in the twentieth century, so that they can function effectively in the
new digital age. In other words, academic literacy in the current digital educational
environment is experiencing new challenges for students in their educational fields.
There are a number of features of IT that students have to be familiar with. These
involve accessing web-based course resources, using online resources such as spelling
and grammar checkers efficiently, being able to participate in online discussions,
and even straightforward tasks such as downloading lesson notes and presentations
as well as being able to upload homework assignments. Students have to be able
to perform these tasks as a matter of course. Students who are unable to perform
these tasks will find their progress severely limited. Universities worldwide have
taken advantage of recent advances in IT, and online submission of assignments and
presentation of learning material is commonplace. This gives the more IT-literate
students an unfair advantage over other less IT-literate ones.
The lack of education is a key factor as people educated to degree level are more
likely to be able to use the internet to its full potential and computers in their daily
lives compared to individuals who left education at the end of secondary school.
Although we live in an age where some countries still find it difficult to provide
students with regular access to computers and the internet, discussions about the
effect of the digital divide on education more often now are concentrated more on
the development of technology-related skills as well as providing the training to
make this happen. On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that the use of IT
has led to the narrowing of the digital divide in certain situations, with students
in certain remote areas benefiting from the use of IT to improve their education.
For adults, a lack of skill in using computers and IT equipment in general makes
it difficult for them to access digital services. These services include aspects such
as health, further education, online booking systems, online banking, online
shopping, access to news, government websites and many more. Let us have a brief
look at the effect of the digital divide on each of these.
6.4.3 Job opportunities
Most jobs in the modern world require IT skills. All businesses and
manufacturing industries, and most supermarkets and shops, use IT in their
everyday dealings. Obviously, job seekers must have these skills if they are to
realise their hopes of a job. Job applicants who do not have these skills will tend
to be unsuccessful in their attempts to find gainful employment.
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Schools and colleges have courses to teach IT skills to students, but those
in poor and rural areas in some developing countries often struggle to have
enough computers to provide these courses. Richer schools do have sufficient
computers and, consequently, can provide students with the necessary skills,
thus contributing to the digital divide.
Another area affected by the digital divide is that of companies recruiting
employees online. There are a number of recruitment services offered by job
agencies. It is possible for an individual to create a curriculum vitae (CV – a
summary of their qualifications, skills and talents) online.
The use of the internet for some time has been seen as an essential way for
people both to look and apply for jobs. The question remains whether new
technologies can even out the inequalities that exist among people trying to gain
access to meaningful employment. A variety of obstacles remain, including access
to the technology, ability to use it once accessed and levels of numeracy and
literacy, which all play a part in limiting social equality for people from deprived
backgrounds. Putting it simply, people without broadband are at a disadvantage
when it comes to finding out about job opportunities or learning new career skills.
The need to use a computer to make an online job application divides job hunters
into two groups. These consist of those who have adequate IT knowledge and
skills and those whose skills and knowledge are lacking. It is fair to say that many
people who grew up with no access to the internet lack the appropriate technology
and digital skills that modern jobs require.
Many organisations who pay good wages view computer skills as being essential
if a person wishes to gain a well-paid position with them. Applicants who lack
these skills may end up low paid, less stimulating jobs. People without internet
access or those lacking IT skills often find it difficult to gain the latest information
concerning job opportunities. This is often the case for those who live in rural
communities in developing countries. Often, they haven’t got the money to buy a
PC or laptop, and many do not have any computer skills at all. It may be that an
applicant could be required to generate a CV online and then send it using email.
If the applicant is a resident of a rural community in a developing country it may
be that they are unable to access and use broadband. It could also be the case
that they have no experience of typing documents and don’t have an active email
account. However, it is not only computer literacy that is crucial but also a greater
awareness of the latest technological tools such as social media. As the technology
improves and develops, job hunters can hugely increase their chances of finding
their dream job by being familiar with and developing expertise in the technology.
As broadband becomes more evenly distributed, particularly in rural areas and
developing nations, the gap will close but the development of IT skills amongst its
users will become just as important. However, it is unfortunate but true that the
impact of the digital divide will increase, giving a wider range of opportunities to
those with good IT skills.
Activity 6h
Describe the ways in which people without access to the internet are affected
when looking for employment.
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6.4.4Socialinteraction
The use of IT technologies has been fundamental in improving social
interaction between people. Social networking websites have been very effective
in making communication and staying in touch with friends and relatives so
much easier. People can now keep in touch with friends or even make new
friends using these sites. The use of the internet allows people to have these
opportunities, but this can create a social divide between those who have
developed these skills and those who are lacking these. Such division creates the
possibility of social inconsistencies in the communities where wealthy people can
have computers and access the internet while poor people cannot.
6.4.5Otherusesfortheinternet
Online booking systems
Let us look at the tourist industry first. Generally, tourists use the internet
to help them research and plan their holiday/vacation destinations. This
has become more and more common and allows people to personalise their
experience rather than having a travel agent plan it out for them. In developed
areas, customers use PCs, laptops and smartphones to browse travel-related
content and offers. In developing countries, internet access can often only be
available to the small proportion of the population that has a relatively high
income. Though this situation is improving, having access to the internet
does not necessarily mean that people will use it wisely. In addition, there are
people who have access to broadband and the internet but are not able to use it
effectively because of lack of knowledge, literacy and language skills. Booking
train tickets is mainly done online. Online booking systems are also used for
planning train journeys. If you wish to travel by train and you do not have
access to the internet or do not have the skills to use it, you will end up paying a
lot more for your journey than if you booked in advance.
Online banking
The effect of the digital divide with regard to online banking has had less of an
impact than on some online services as many people use smartphones to access their
bank accounts. This has less of an effect on rural communities who do not have a
good broadband connection. They simply use their phones instead. However, there
remain rural communities who do not have a good phone signal and so still suffer,
and of course people may not be able to afford to buy a phone or the data charges if
they had one. With major banks closing many of their rural branches it is becoming
increasingly difficult to carry out transactions of any sort.
Online shopping
There are two ways in which the digital divide affects online shopping. The
first is between what are often regarded as the bricks-and-mortar retail outlets
and those organisations that only have a digital footprint and no physical stores.
Many main street or high street chainstores are finding it difficult to make a
profit as more and more people shop online and the chains have often been slow
to develop their online business. They are now finding it difficult to compete
with those commercial organisations that are completely digital and have no
physical presence. Many have ceased to trade.
The other way that online shopping has been affected by the digital divide is for
the shoppers themselves. It is generally accepted that there are many advantages
to being able to shop online: items tend to be cheaper online; customers can
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compare products and prices at their leisure and can shop at a convenient time
for them; food shops can remember the customer’s shopping list and favourite
brands and deliver at a time to suit them. If people are deprived of this access,
particularly poorer people, they may end up paying more for their goods than
richer people and the digital divide will remain in place.
Access to news
Again, those who suffer from the digital divide are at a distinct disadvantage
when it comes to gaining access to news bulletins. Most newspapers are now
online, and it could be that in the not too distant future they cease to be
printed and will go the way of utility bills and bank statements. Since January
2020, the BBC in the UK no longer has a teletext service on the television and
has informed viewers that they will need to go online in future for news content
outside its normal news bulletins. People who are disadvantaged as a result of
the digital divide will find they have limited access to the latest news.
Government websites
People use government websites for a variety of reasons. These can be to:
» obtain information on statistics and government research
» download government forms or applications
» find information about government sponsorships and visas
» pay fines online or apply for government benefits.
Again, if people do not have access to, or have the skills to use, the internet,
then they are going to be at a distinct disadvantage. They will need to travel to
the nearest big city with a government centre which deals with such matters.
This obviously means they will have the expense of this travel and will have to
spend a large amount of time travelling.
Activity 6i
1 Describe the activities that students in school should have the IT skills to do.
2 Describe three activities that adults will not be able to carry out if they
cannot access the internet.
6.5 Reducing the effects of the digital divide
One way is to enable faster and cheaper access to the internet. This will reduce
the divide between those who have access to the internet and those who do not.
However, it does not get over the problem of those people who, even though
they will have improved access, will not necessarily engage with the technology.
People need to have the skills to use it and also trust, or at least, lack of fear, of
using it. Developing digital skills and digital literacy courses has been shown to
lead towards positive effects on employability, social inclusion and general well-
being. Reducing the digital divide requires a partnership between governments,
the private sector, education providers and IT experts. Governments can
provide incentives to private industries as well as investment for rural projects
and, in addition, introduce initiatives in state or local government education
systems. The private sector can build up broadband and other communications
infrastructure, but this cannot be done by one group alone; it needs
collaboration between all these groups.
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One initiative has been the use of power-line communication (PLC) which
carries data through power cables. It is possible for data to travel down normal
power cables and be distributed to households at the same time as electricity.
This is often referred to as broadband over power lines (BPL).
In 2019, Comcast, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the
USA, developed a series of initiatives in order to help people with disabilities
who are on low incomes to gain access to the internet. Included was a grant to
the American Association for People with Disabilities, intended to help with the
delivery of digital literacy training programmes. They acknowledged that the
internet is a wonderful thing provided people have the skills to use it.
Kenya is often referred to as Africa’s digital heartland. As long ago as 2016,
the Kenyan government produced a National ICT Policy. Its aim was to create
sufficient incentives to the private sector to provide people with disabilities
with access to a fast internet connection. Information providers, including the
government, would also be required to produce content in suitable formats so
that people with disabilities would be able to easily access such content.
Another section of the community which suffers from the digital divide is
the elderly. As we have already seen, this is often caused by fear of the new
technology. To overcome this, there could be teaching programmes within their
community teaching older people how to use this advanced technology.
Children from poorer communities also suffer. One way to help them is to
release cheap PCs or laptops to these school-age children. In the UK there are
a number of companies that offer reduced prices for refurbished computers to
children in families receiving state benefits. Unfortunately, the downside is that
a broadband dongle costs almost as much as the PC itself.
There are a number of organisations that help governments in developing
countries provide schools with computers. One such company is Computer Aid
International. Computer Aid works with several non-profit-making organisations
to provide PCs for use in schools and has done this in a number of African
countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia and many others.
We have seen how people living in rural areas can have no or poor access to the
internet. One solution is to create cyber cafes in these areas. Many countries have rural
communities whose sole access to the internet is through the use of internet cafes.
Examination-style questions
1 Describe two of the causes of the digital divide. [4]
2
Other than those living in rural areas and those living in urban areas,
describe two groups of people who are affected by the digital divide,
giving reasons why they are affected. [6]
3
The lack of a broadband connection affects those people living in rural
areas. Explain why these people might not have a broadband connection.
[4]
4
Explain why having access to high-speed broadband does not necessarily
solve the problem of the digital divide.
[6]
