Comparing Internet and mobile phone digital divides

Abstract

The digital divide (i.e., differences in access to and usage of new communication technologies across socio-demographic groups) represents a major policy and social issue. While results are fairly consistent on some topics (usage gaps are associated with education, income, and age), contradictions exist in other areas, and differences based on race and gender are largely disappearing. Recent research on the digital divide is nearly entirely devoted to the Internet, with little analysis of the mobile phone. Summarizes research on the extent and distinctions of the Internet (and some mobile phone) digital divide. Finds that analyses of a national representative telephone survey conducted in 2000 reveals similarities and differences in three kinds of digital divides for both the Internet and the mobile phone: users and non users, users and dropouts, and recent and veteran users. Results show these three kinds of digital divides to be conceptually and empirically different both within and across the Internet and mobile phone media. Proceeding Published by Information Today, Inc., 2002