Digital Divide

The digital divide generally describes the disparity that exists among individuals and communities around the world with varying degrees of access to digitally mediated information and communication technologies (ICTs) and ability to benefit from digital resources. This gap has socioeconomic and educational implications as well as global impacts. The connections to resources—both to human resources and information resources—that these technologies afford increasingly influences globalization and economic prosperity in the current information age, both within the United States and abroad. Digital technologies open new pathways and possibilities for accessing information, services, and education by way of both formal and informal learning opportunities. This division raises critical concerns about equity—namely, that those without the ability to meaningfully use digital technologies do not stand to benefit from the ...