For better and for worse: A panel survey of how mobile-only and hybrid Internet use affects digital skills over time

Abstract

Public policies across the world are tackling Internet access inequality through mobile connections, which has led to an increase in mobile-only use. However, digital skills remain as a stumbling block to achieve digital inclusion. Using a two-wave panel survey on a representative sample conducted in Chile between 2018 and 2020, this study investigates how different mode of access (i.e. mobile-only vs mobile and computer) affects digital abilities over time. Results show significant differences in skills by mode of access. People who became hybrid users (mobile and computer) by wave 2 significantly gained skills while those who were hybrid and became mobile-only by wave 2 significantly lost abilities. People who did not change their type of access did not change their level of digital skills, despite the past of time and gained experience using the Internet. These conclusions show how mode of access may have a key effect on people’s digital inclusion.

A Longitudinal Perspective on Digital Skills for Everyday Life: Measurement and Empirical Evidence

“…Conceptualizations of digital skills have established their relevance for usage, as well as for social inclusion as a consequence of usage (Hargittai & Micheli, 2019;Helsper, 2021;Reisdorf & Groselj, 2018;van Dijk, 2020). This claim has been empirically supported by a recent panel study on internet use and digital skills (Correa et al, 2022). The relationship between digital skills, internet usage, and the feeling of inclusion in the information society is especially relevant in a society where the digital is the norm (Allmann & Blank, 2021).…”

“…Theoretical approaches like the digital divide framework or the digital inequalities perspective have argued that a person's digital skills are impacted by their social position (van Dijk, 2020), which has been evidenced empirically as well (see e.g., Bonfadelli, 2002;Büchi et al, 2016;Ragnedda, 2020). Differences in digital skills can lead to a variety of internet uses and also to various consequences such as different levels of inclusion in the information society (Correa et al, 2022). This makes the study of digital skills highly relevant, especially in societies where the digital is increasingly becoming the norm and both private corporations, and governments employ a digital-first strategy (Allmann & Blank, 2021).…”

Transitional affordances: A longitudinal mixed‐method study on the context and effects of changing mode of online access

“…Previous research (Cabello et al, 2021; Chen & Li, 2021) has found that those who rely on one device have fewer digital abilities and a narrower set of digital media use skills compared with those who access the Internet through multiple devices. Furthermore, changing mode of access has an effect on digital skills over time (Correa et al, 2022).…”

“…These apprehensions are linked to mainly two key dimensions: digital skills and range of online activities. Studies have consistently found that multidevice access is related to higher skills compared with mobile‐only access (Cabello et al, 2021; Chen & Li, 2021; Correa et al, 2022; van Deursen & van Dijk, 2018).…”

“…Although mobile‐only use offers advantages for vulnerable populations to access digital media, there are still concerns regarding material gaps, because infrastructure and mode of access are important elements of the digital inclusion process (Katz, 2017; Randell‐Moon & Hynes, 2022; Reisdorf, Fernandez, et al, 2020). For instance, researchers have suggested that using one type of digital device is associated with digital inequality (Cabello et al, 2021; Chen & Li, 2021; Napoli & Obar, 2014) and leads to lower levels of digital skills (Correa et al, 2022).…”