DIGITAL DIVIDE

WHAT IS DIGITAL DIVIDE?

- Digital divide is a term that refers to the gap between demographics
and regions that have access to modern information and
communications technology, and those that don't or have restricted
access. This technology can include the telephone,
television, personal computers and the Internet.

The "digital divide" refers to the fact that certain parts of the population have
substantially better opportunities to benefit from the new economy than other
parts of the population.

3 STAGES OF DIGITAL DIVIDE

Stage 1: Economic Divide

In its simplest form, the digital divide is manifested in the fact that some people
can't afford to buy a computer. Although politicians always talk about this point,
it's growing more irrelevant with each passing day — at least in the industrialized
world. We should recognize that for truly poor developing countries, computers
will remain out of the average citizen's reach for 20 years or more.

Stage 2: Usability Divide

Far worse than the economic divide is the fact that technology remains so
complicated that many people couldn't use a computer even if they got one for
free. Many others can use computers, but don't achieve the modern world's full
benefits because most of the available services are too difficult for them to
understand.

Stage 3: Empowerment Divide

We have the knowledge needed to close the usability divide, and I remain
hopeful that we'll get the job done. The empowerment divide, however, is the
hard one: even if computers and the Internet were extraordinarily easy to use,
not everybody would make full use of the opportunities that such technology
affords.
Participation inequality is one exponent of the empowerment divide that has held
constant throughout all the years of Internet growth: in social networks and
community systems, about 90% of users don't contribute, 9% contribute
sporadically, and a tiny minority of 1% accounts for most contributions.
.

Prospects for Bridge Building

The Internet can be an empowering tool that lets people find good deals,
manage vendors, and control their finances and investments. But it can
just as easily be an alienating environment where people are cheated.
Members of the Internet elite don't realize the extent to which less-skilled
users are left out of many of the advancements they cheer and enjoy.
Ultimately, I'm extremely optimistic about the economic divide, which is
vanishing rapidly in industrialized countries. The usability divide will
take longer to close, but at least we know how to handle it — it's simply a
matter of deciding to do so. I'm very pessimistic about
the empowerment divide, however, which I expect will only grow more
severe in the future.
WHY IS DIGITAL DIVIDE IMPORTANT?
 • It is important to understand what the digital divide represents, in
order to help bridge the gap by implementing national and global
strategies that distribute information and knowledge among
the information rich and information poor more evenly. In effect by
bridging the digital divide, we are increasing the employment
opportunities of theinformation poor by helping them overcome social
and cultural inequalities (Kelley-Salinas 2000).

The Impacts of Digital Divide

The digital divide has created a new distinction basis in the society
that has critically influenced daily operations and livelihood of
persons in globally. Effects of the digital divide are immensely felt
in the following areas: Education, job opportunities,
communication, politics, consumer satisfaction, health Information,
community Involvement, government, and emergency information.
A candid look at the impacts of the digital divide will guide on the
direction and speed of bridging the digital gap. Some of the vivid
effects of the digital divide are elaborated below
Impact of the digital divide on education
•The internet offers a rich reservoir of information and knowledge.
Skills and expertise are well organized and conveyed over the
internet making the use of computers to be a ubiquitous activity in
the developed world.
•The access and availability of ICT have been associated with
academic success and robust research activities since users can
quickly make references.
• Education is a very dynamic sector and keeping up to date is
crucial to success, the presence of internet access will ensure you
get the latest trends and revolutionize your research skills.
• The inadequacy of ICT equipment has made the already weak
education system in the developing countries even more
ineffective.
Impact of the digital divide on the economy
•Ceding of telecommunication services is crucial for economic
growth, and there exists a strong linear correlation between the
two. Interestingly, socio-economic status is one of the major
causes of the digital divide and it also a consequence of the digital
divide.
• They can shop online and compare prices to get the best
bargains, participate in online auctions and safely and securely
transact online this translates to economic empowerment.
• For the sect that lacks access to technology, trade is made
hectic, and returns get lowered this maintain the economic gap
between the developed and the underdeveloped nations
extensive.
• The rich countries get, and the emerging countries cannot
compete with them hence remaining to depend on grants and
donations.

Impact of the digital divide on social

•The inclusion of ICT services has been crucial in enhancing
social interactions among people. Social websites such as
Facebook and Instagram have been useful in facilitating
communication and maintaining touch with friend and relatives of
close ties.
• Technology is very influential on the levels of relations among
members of society since new social opportunities arise when we
include ICT in our relationships.
•People can now keep in touch with friends or even make new
friends even amidst tight schedule courtesy of chat rooms.
Besides, internet harbors fertile information about peoples’ culture
and religion that are vital in guiding social relations.

Impact of the digital divide on the society

•The digital divide has contributed significantly to stratification in
the community whereby there arises a class of persons with
access to the internet and another class unable to use the ICT
services either due to affordability issues or literacy levels. Some
other factors that contribute to the digital divide in the
society include age, race, and ethnicity.
• The digital divide has led to a rise of new alignments in the
community whereby people are classified depending on ability to
access internet services this is coupled with associated benefits,
and therefore those with limited access to technology continue to
lag behind in development matters.
Impact of the digital divide on culture
•The integral components culture like relationships,
communications, and art have been dramatically evolved by
technology. However, it seems like some specific customs and
cultural traditions have remained intact.
•The developed countries experience tremendous changes in their
culture as they incorporate new cultures acquired from the internet
while the developing countries with people having limited access
to the internet have their culture unchanged. Because they do not
have access to technology, people in technology-poor nations are
left behind. However, in order to narrow the digital divide, people
need access to technology.
•Inasmuch as digital divide is essential in preserving certain
cultures, the downside impacts are overwhelming and speedy
efforts towards its reduction if not elimination should be much
enhanced