Digital Inequality

Abstract

This article expands understanding of the digital divide to more nuanced measures of use by examining differences in young adults' online activities. Young adults are the most highly connected age group, but that does not mean that their Internet uses are homogenous. Analyzing data about the Web uses of 270 adults from across the United States, the article explores the differences in 18-to 26-year-olds' online activities and what social factors explain the variation. Findings suggest that those with higher levels of education and of a more resource-rich background use the Web for more "capitalenhancing" activities. Detailed analyses of user attributes also reveal that online skill is an important mediating factor in the types of activities people pursue online. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for a "second-level digital divide," that is, differences among the population of young adult Internet users.

ICTs and the Computerised Hijab: Women's Experiences of ICT in the UAE

“…While there is recognition of the potential of ICT as a tool that could give a major boost to the economic, political and social empowerment of women, and the promotion of gender equality, a "gender divide" with respect to access and use has also been identified (Hargittai & Hsieh, 2013). Unless this gender divide is specifically addressed, there is a risk that ICT may exacerbate existing inequalities between women and men and create new forms of inequality (Sandys, 2005;Trauth, 2013).…”

Ict in Kindergarten: Challenges and Opportunities

“…Az ál-talános felhasználási lehetőségek mellett terjednek az elektronikus közigazgatási szolgál-tatások és azok igénybevételei, valamint növekszik az internetes kereskedelem, ám a határokon át vásárlók száma elenyésző. A képzettség hiánya, illetve a nem megfelelő szintű digitális műveltség a 21. században már hátráltató tényezőként jelentkezhet, hiszen az alacsony IKT-kompetenciákkal rendelkező egyének kevésbé gyakran használják az online közösségi szolgáltatásokat, mint a jó digitális műveltséggel rendelkezők (van Deursen & van Dijk, 2009;Hargittai & Hinnant, 2008).…”

Cultural Stratification on the Internet: Five Clusters of Values and Beliefs among Users in Britain

“…Other specific foci have been around the role of the internet in changing conceptions of time (Qiu, 2013;Wajcman, 2015), and the structure of class and social inequalities (Hargittai & Hsieh, 2013;Helsper, 2011;Qiu, 2013). The participatory platforms of Web 2.0 have increased the importance of personal meaning on the internet.…”

“…Our surveys asked about bad experiences online so we could see if these sensitized people to problems of the internet. Second, we expected that more skilled users would be more at ease and find the internet less intimidating (see Hargittai, 2002, Hargittai & Hinnant, 2008, Hargittai & Hsieh, 2013. Third, the internet is not static: it keeps reinventing itself every few years.…”