"The Digital Divide" - and how some are going about mending it

The digital divide, for some people, is a foreign concept. It was to me.

For those still unfamiliar with it, the digital divide can be defined "as the gap between people with effective access to digital and information technology and those with very limited or no access at all." This concept/idea is often times referred to as the "digital gap," as well.

Some researchers have placed the blame for the digital divide on the differences in income level. As seen in a study by Jim Jansen, Senior Fellow with the Pew Research Center Internet and American Life Project, the results are startling. (see figure 1)

As the results show, those with a lower combined income (<$30,000 a year), are less likely to be using the internet at home or on the use of their cell phones. And as seen through the results, those who earn a combined of $75,000, or higher, a year use the internet more frequently at home and on their cell phones.

Now, those that earn $30,000 a year, obviously, do not have the means to have the most up-to-date computer software, or even DSL, even though not having DSL these days seems far-fetched and barbaric. Also, those with a lower combined income may not be able to afford "smart phones" with readily available internet. Also, those who have smart phones generally pay more through their cell phone company for having the internet as a feature. Those that earn lower yearly incomes may not be able to even afford to own a cell phone, let alone extra bonus features. And as seen in figure 1 cell phone frequented internet is more common than using the internet from your home computer.

Basically, the more money you make a year, the more available the internet is to you, and the more you'll use it. For whatever purpose.

But, there's a brighter side to this. According to an article published in January of last year, "the non-profit John S. and James L. Knight Foundation awarded $5 million in grants for Detroit to develop for various projects, including the expansion of freely-available internet access... CTN will also add another $100,000 and look to secure federal grants to help residents without computers obtain one."

The project is expected to provide more than 4,000 Detroit residents with internet access and is expected to help in the process of job searching and posting resumes online, helping the Detroit job market and the unemployed. The project began in the beginning of January. Keep your eyes open for up-to-date information about the project's progress in the coming news out of Detroit.

Also, there's a website, InternetforEveryone.org, which is a movement that is committed to connecting everyone to a fast, open, and affordable internet.

Please watch the video below for more information and to see how you can help bridge the digital divide.