The Global Digital Divide - Within and Between Countries

Abstract

The diffusion of the Internet (and its accompanying digital divides) has occurredat the intersection of both international and within-country differences in socioeconomic,technological and linguistic factors. Telecommunications policies, infrastructures andeducation are prerequisites for marginalized communities to participate in theinformation age. High costs, English language dominance, the lack of relevant content,and the lack of technological support are barriers for disadvantaged communities usingcomputers and the Internet.The diffusion of Internet use in developed countries may be slowing and evenstalling, when compared to the explosive growth of Internet access and use in the pastdecade. With the proliferation of the Internet in developed countries, the digital dividebetween North American and developed countries elsewhere is thus narrowing, butremains substantial. The divide also remains substantial within almost all countries,and is widening even as the number and percentage of Internet users increases, asnewcomers to the Internet are demographically similar to those already online. People,social groups and nations on the wrong side of the digital divide may be increasinglyexcluded from knowledge-based societies and economies.