scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Journal ArticleDOI

Digital Divides From Access to Activities: Comparing Mobile and Personal Computer Internet Users

01 Aug 2013-Journal of Communication (Wiley Subscription Services, Inc.)-Vol. 63, Iss: 4, pp 721-744
TL;DR: While sociodemographic differences are more influential, device type can increase likelihood of use for some “capital enhancing” activities, but only for a computer, thus, although mobile Internet is available for those on the wrong side of the digital divide, these users do not engage in many activities, decreasing potential benefits.
Abstract: Digital inequality can take many forms. Four forms studied here are access to Internet, use of different devices, extent of usage, and engagement in different Internet activities. However, it is not clear whether sociodemographic factors, or devices, are more influential in usage and activities. Results from an unfamiliar context show that there are significant sociodemographic influences on access, device, usage, and activities, and differences in activities by device type and usage. While sociodemographic differences are more influential, device type can increase likelihood of use for some “capital enhancing” activities, but only for a computer. Thus, although mobile Internet is available for those on the wrong side of the digital divide, these users do not engage in many activities, decreasing potential benefits.
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that Internet use is strongly skewed in this age group leading to a partial exclusion of the old seniors (70+), and Logistic regression shows that gender differences in usage disappear if controlled for education, income, technical interest, pre-retirement computer use and marital status.
Abstract: The diffusion of the Internet is reaching a level between 80% and 90% in Western societies. Yet, while the digital divide is closing for young cohorts, it is still an issue when comparing various generations. This study focuses specifically on the so-called ‘grey divide’, a divide among seniors of age 65+ years. Based on a representative survey in Switzerland (N = 1105), it is found that Internet use is strongly skewed in this age group leading to a partial exclusion of the old seniors (70+). Logistic regression shows that gender differences in usage disappear if controlled for education, income, technical interest, pre-retirement computer use and marital status. Furthermore, the social context appears to have a manifold influence on Internet use. Encouragement by family and friends is a strong predictor for Internet use, and private learning settings are preferred over professional courses. Implications for digital inequality initiatives and further research are discussed.

558 citations


Cites background from "Digital Divides From Access to Acti..."

  • ...Foremost, this includes the differentiation of adoption, access and more specific usage patterns and skills (Pearce and Rice, 2013)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results show that the third-level digital divide was underexposed, and the identified determinants show that digital divide research is largely limited to sociodemographic and socioeconomic determinants.

535 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The study finds that a diversity in access to devices and peripherals, device-related opportunities, and the ongoing expenses required to maintain the hardware, software, and subscriptions affect existing inequalities related to Internet skills, uses, and outcomes.
Abstract: For a long time, a common opinion among policy-makers was that the digital divide problem would be solved when a country’s Internet connection rate reaches saturation. However, scholars of the second-level digital divide have concluded that the divides in Internet skills and type of use continue to expand even after physical access is universal. This study—based on an online survey among a representative sample of the Dutch population—indicates that the first-level digital divide remains a problem in one of the richest and most technologically advanced countries in the world. By extending basic physical access combined with material access, the study finds that a diversity in access to devices and peripherals, device-related opportunities, and the ongoing expenses required to maintain the hardware, software, and subscriptions affect existing inequalities related to Internet skills, uses, and outcomes.

371 citations


Cites background from "Digital Divides From Access to Acti..."

  • ...Smartphones and tablets are used relatively often for leisure purposes (gaming and social networking) and personal safety, and desktop and laptop computers are more task- or work-based (Murphy et al., 2016; Pearce and Rice, 2013; Zillien and Hargittai, 2009)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The analysis indicates that while the digital divide policies' focus has moved to skills and usage access, motivational and material access remain relevant since they are necessary through the entire process of Internet appropriation.
Abstract: In this investigation, a multifaceted model of Internet appropriation that encompasses four types of access—motivational, material, skills, and usage—is tested with a representative sample of the Dutch population. The analysis indicates that while the digital divide policies' focus has moved to skills and usage access, motivational and material access remain relevant since they are necessary through the entire process of Internet appropriation. Moreover, each type of access has its own ground of determination and they interact together to shape digital inequalities. Therefore, digital divide policies should address material, skills, and usage access simultaneously.

200 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results show that sociodemographics alone account for up to half of the variance in usage in these high-penetration countries, with age being the strongest predictor.
Abstract: Based on representative surveys on Internet use, this article advances comparative research on the second-level digital divide by modeling Internet usage disparities for five countries with narrowing access gaps. Four core Internet usage types are constructed and predicted by sociodemographic variables in a structural model. Overall, the findings confirm the recently identified shift in the digital divide from access to usage in five further countries. Results show that sociodemographics alone account for up to half of the variance in usage in these high-penetration countries, with age being the strongest predictor. Measurement invariance tests indicate that a direct comparison is only valid between three of the five countries explored. Methodologically, this points to the indispensability of such tests for unbiased comparative research.

160 citations


Cites background from "Digital Divides From Access to Acti..."

  • ...Recent studies have shown a strong negative effect of age on Internet use, be it time online, frequency, or variety of usage (Blank and Groselj, 2014; Friemel, 2014; Pearce and Rice, 2013; Van Deursen and Van Dijk, 2014)....

    [...]

References
More filters
Book
01 Jan 1962
TL;DR: A history of diffusion research can be found in this paper, where the authors present a glossary of developments in the field of Diffusion research and discuss the consequences of these developments.
Abstract: Contents Preface CHAPTER 1. ELEMENTS OF DIFFUSION CHAPTER 2. A HISTORY OF DIFFUSION RESEARCH CHAPTER 3. CONTRIBUTIONS AND CRITICISMS OF DIFFUSION RESEARCH CHAPTER 4. THE GENERATION OF INNOVATIONS CHAPTER 5. THE INNOVATION-DECISION PROCESS CHAPTER 6. ATTRIBUTES OF INNOVATIONS AND THEIR RATE OF ADOPTION CHAPTER 7. INNOVATIVENESS AND ADOPTER CATEGORIES CHAPTER 8. DIFFUSION NETWORKS CHAPTER 9. THE CHANGE AGENT CHAPTER 10. INNOVATION IN ORGANIZATIONS CHAPTER 11. CONSEQUENCES OF INNOVATIONS Glossary Bibliography Name Index Subject Index

38,750 citations

Journal ArticleDOI

18,643 citations

Book
17 Sep 2004
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine the ways in which differing access to technology contributes to social and economic stratification or inclusion, and present case studies from developed and developing countries, including Brazil, China, Egypt, India, and the United States.
Abstract: From the Publisher: Much discussion of new technologies and social equality has focused on the oversimplified notion of a "digital divide." Technology and Social Inclusion moves beyond the limited view of haves and have-nots to analyze the different forms of access to information and communication technologies. Drawing on theory from political science, economics, sociology, psychology, communications, education, and linguistics, the book examines the ways in which differing access to technology contributes to social and economic stratification or inclusion. The book takes a global perspective, presenting case studies from developed and developing countries, including Brazil, China, Egypt, India, and the United States. A central premise is that, in today's society, the ability to access, adapt, and create knowledge using information and communication technologies is critical to social inclusion. This focus on social inclusion shifts the discussion of the "digital divide" from gaps to be overcome by providing equipment to social development challenges to be addressed through the effective integration of technology into communities, institutions, and societies. What is most important is not so much the physical availability of computers and the Internet but rather people's ability to make use of those technologies to engage in meaningful social practices.

1,606 citations

Book
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: A Framework to Understand the Digital Divide Motivational Access Material Access Skills Access Usage Access in the Information Society Inequality in the Network Society The Stakes: Participation or Exclusion Policy Perspective Perspective Reference Index as discussed by the authors
Abstract: Introduction A Framework to Understand the Digital Divide Motivational Access Material Access Skills Access Usage Access Inequality in the Information Society Inequality in the Network Society The Stakes: Participation or Exclusion Policy Perspective Reference Index

1,417 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Tichenor et al. as discussed by the authors found that increasing the flow of news on a topic leads to greater acquisition of knowledge about that topic among the more highly educated segments of society, and whether the resulting knowledge gap closes may depend partly on whether the stimulus intensity of mass media publicity is maintained at a high level, or is reduced or eliminated at a point when only the more active persons have gained that knowledge.
Abstract: Data from four types of research-news diffusion studies, time trends, a newspaper strike, and a field experiment-are consistent with the general hypothesis that increasing the flow of news on a topic leads to greater acquisition of knowledge about that topic among the more highly educated segments of society. Whether the resulting knowledge gap closes may depend partly on whether the stimulus intensity of mass media publicity is maintained at a high level, or is reduced or eliminated at a point when only the more active persons have gained that knowledge. Phillip J. Tichenor is Associate Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota. George A. Donohue is Professor of Sociology and Clarice N. Olien is Instructor in Sociology, also at the University of Minnesota. This analysis was supported by Project 27-18, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.

1,345 citations