What Is the Digital Divide 4 Why Does the Digital Divide Matter 6 Who Is Online and Who Is Offline 8 Why Does Access to the Internet Differ Worldwide 10 Who Can Afford Digital Technology 12 How Does Access Depend on Where You Live 14 How Is Education a Factor in the Digital Divide 16 What Is the Primary Language of the Internet 18 How Do Race and Ethnicity Matter in the Divide 20 How Do Disabilities Affect Access to the Internet 22 Why Is Age a Factor in the Digital Divide 24 What Can Be Done to Bridge the Divide 26 Fact Sheet 28 Glossary 30 For More Information 31 Index 32 About the Author 32 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Technology is a big part of our lives You can talk shop read play games and watch movies on your computer or mobile device You can even go to school online But not everyone can access or use the Internet Only 40 percent of the world’s people have Internet access Approximately 4 5 billion people do not have an Internet connection This is the simplest definition of the digital divide It is the gap between those with ready access and those without Another term for this gap is digital inequality Many people cannot afford a computer and high-speed Internet Others live in rural areas where In the United States many people can access the Internet even in the park WHAT IS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE 1 4
fast Internet is not available Some governments prevent their citizens from using all or part of the Internet Some people may have limited ability to use the Internet They lack education have disabilities or speak a language other than English Many people experience a combination of these factors The digital divide is not just one divide It’s many THINK ABOUT IT What are three possible causes of the digital divide Reread the text on these two pages to find the causes 15 Percent of Americans who do not have access to high-speed Internet The digital divide is the gap between those who have ready access to the Internet and those who do not Reasons for digital inequality can include income education and age They may also include language disability geography and politics Many rural areas do not have access to fast Internet 5
