Re-conceptualization of "digital divide" among primary school children in an era of saturated access to technology

Abstract

This study conceptualizes "digital divide" among school children. The concept of digital divide is elaborated on the basis of the layers of technology adoption such as "access", "effective use" and "the social envelope" around children's use of home computers. In this study, a theoretical framework of "digital divide" is proposed consisting of social, economic, individual and cultural aspects of the digital divide among children. This theoretical framework suggests that socio-economic status effect goes beyond ownership and extends into meaningful education use of home computers. We argue that inequalities among children can strongly be affected by the economic/social/cultural environment around home computing i.e. parents’ computing practices at home and the home learning environment. As a result, we argue that access to a supportive ‘social envelope’ is the area in which most digital inequalities exist rather than the physical access to the hardware or even usage time.