The Digital Divide and Sociology

Think of what you do every day. How much does the technology you take for granted impact your life? If the internet collapsed tomorrow, would you be able to do your job or complete your schoolwork? A life with limited access to the internet is a grim and unfair reality for many.

The digital divide creates an ever-growing inequality between the well-connected and the unplugged. This article examines the digital divide and sociology—how the global digital divide has a measurable impact on both social and economic inequality. This leaves those without information and communications technology (ICT) access struggling to keep up with a digital society.

Study of the Digital Divide in Sociology

The digital divide describes the socioeconomic gap between people who benefit from the digital age and those who do not. For instance, having internet access at home while attending school allows students to earn $2 million more than unconnected students over their lifetimes. In simple terms, a clear inequality exists between those who can access the internet and the services it provides and people without access.

This disparity exists on a global scale and on an individual scale. You can see it when developing countries fight to keep up with developed countries, and you can see it when people experiencing homelessness are unable to access online job applications.

In addition, as more functions of our society move to online spaces, the global digital divide is getting worse. People in rural areas without internet—who make up over half the world’s population—are only getting further behind as the rest of the world advances without them.

Closing the digital divide depends on providing reliable ICT infrastructure to those without access.

Economic Impacts of the Digital Divide

The digital divide is making the wealthy richer and the poor poorer. Access to jobs, investments, and other resources often comes only with reliable broadband internet. Pew Research reports that 13 percent of households making less than $30,000 per year do not have access to any kind of internet-connected device. In contrast, only 1 percent of households making $100,000 or more per year lacked these devices.

In addition, people without internet access have no chance to use online stores or research the best deals. They pay more for fewer options, reinforcing existing social inequality.

The digital divide also affects businesses economically. Some businesses can’t compete with companies that have better access to technology and advancements. They may not be able to reach their markets effectively, and they miss out on profits.

The internet provides a higher level of economic stability for individuals and companies. It expands options, leading to a brighter future and the ability to rise in social class for those who can take advantage of everything it offers.

Social Impacts of the Digital Divide

The digital divide puts those without access at a social disadvantage as well. As the saying goes, knowledge is power. A wealth of information is out of reach for people on the wrong side of the digital divide.

Those with limited access to digital tools don’t have the same opportunities to learn. In fact, students with computers at home are more likely to graduate from high school than those who don’t by over six percentage points. The students’ digital divide affects valuable skills as well.

Even mobile access to social media and other digital communication methods can increase the inequality gap. People without access may find it more difficult to make or maintain social connections. They are also cut off from many of the support networks they need to maintain their relationships and mental health.

How Sociology Has Impacted the Digital Divide

Only through sociology can we recognize the true impact of the digital divide and understand how to solve the problem. Global sociological research can identify the causes and effects of the digital divide. Recognizing these issues is the first step to creating a solution.

For instance, the Pew Research Center revealed that white adults are more likely to have a home internet connection than Black adults by nine percentage points. Sixty-three percent of Black adults say this leads to notable disadvantages. These numbers show that the digital divide contributes to deeper societal issues, like racism, and further points to the need for structural changes.

Sociology reveals that digital media has changed social interactions. Our communities are bigger in the digital sphere. We can communicate more often and maintain relationships longer by using social media.

As a result, sociologists believe that the digital divide creates a new avenue for prejudice. Already, owning the latest mobile phone says something about your social class. Soon, not having one could lead to social exclusion, both online and in person. As the gap widens, sociology tells us how important it is to global equality that we implement mitigation strategies quickly.

In short, sociology is the best way to illuminate the core issues of the digital divide, which leads to faster and better solutions.

Societal Factors Contributing to the Digital Divide

The digital divide didn’t come out of nowhere; it grew from existing social inequality, and especially wealth inequality. From the high up-front cost of computers to monthly internet bills, technology is a hefty expense that only adds up. That can make it out of reach for low-income families, who need to put food on the table first.

Furthermore, a disconnect exists at the government level. Politicians may not always recognize the growing importance of internet access as a public utility. As a result, disadvantaged communities lack funding and infrastructure that could close the digital divide.

Economic benefit is another contributing factor. Many broadband companies don’t see the value in extending their infrastructure to rural areas to reach only a few more customers. People in hard-to-reach areas, if they receive access at all, pay noncompetitive prices or must rely on more expensive satellite options.

The Digital Divide around the World

The digital divide has the biggest impact on developing countries, which may have no technology roadmap in place or may struggle to implement it. These nations have the least access to reliable ICT infrastructure and remain less connected to the online world. In fact, according to United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, about 3.7 billion people, mostly in developing nations, are off-line.

With the resources that the internet offers less available or even unavailable, these populations are less informed and less involved with the issues that directly affect them. Not only are their opportunities limited, but their voices are silenced.

However, even wealthy countries deal with the negative impacts of the digital divide. Rural and low-income areas must deal with low connection levels in a society that expects and demands an online presence. As a result, individuals in these areas must work harder for fewer opportunities, and they suffer financial and social setbacks as well.

Examples of the Digital Divide in Sociology

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2011, job seekers using the internet were 25 percent more likely to quickly find a job than those using traditional methods. In addition, job hunters with online access can better research companies and positions, and they can prepare for interviews more thoroughly. This puts those without access at an immediate disadvantage. As they struggle to find a job, they fall behind peers who can create more stable futures, and the inequality grows.

The gap doesn’t begin in adulthood—students fall behind as well because of the digital divide. The Federal Communications Commission conducted a survey that showed 70 percent of teachers assigned homework that required internet access. Without a computer, students in a less advantaged social class may need to spend more time and resources getting connected or may not finish their work at all. This leads to both lower grades and lower graduation rates for students without internet access at home.

The COVID-19 pandemic provides further recent real-life examples of the digital divide’s impact. As companies across the world sent thousands of employees home for work and schools did the same for students, those without broadband access couldn’t keep up. Pew Research reports that 53 percent of Americans believe the internet was essential to them during the outbreak. At the same time, 52 percent of lower-income families reported anxiety about paying for their internet connection.

These common examples of the digital divide showcase the sociological effects of digital inequality. Every day, real people encounter social and economic setbacks because their limited access to networking strangles their opportunities.

You can learn more about the digital divide within sociology by continuing your digital divide research. Start by learning from groups invested in the issue.

Groups Devoted to Digital Divide Issues

Dozens of nonprofits work hard to reduce the digital divide. While some focus on local change, others work nationally and even globally to address digital inequality.

One of the largest organizations involved in closing the digital divide is the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA). With over six hundred affiliates, this organization stretches across the United States to bring awareness of the issue and create change. It goes beyond advocacy to conduct research and connect people with resources like low-cost internet.

How Groups Fight the Digital Divide

These groups have an arsenal of tools for the fight against the digital divide. They educate people about the issue, lobby the government for funding, and take direct action to put technology in the hands of those struggling without it. Most groups focus their efforts on one or two strategies.

For instance, EveryoneOn, in addition to providing digital literacy training, connects low-income families to the best affordable internet providers. They also work with broadband companies to get special deals for qualifying households. According to their website, they now serve eighty-seven communities.

Similarly, Close the Gap is an international organization that provides computers to schools and other agencies. Close the Gap collects device donations, refurbishes them, and sends them to where they are most needed. They even install the computers and provide long-term maintenance. They primarily focus on aiding developing countries, and so far they have donated over one million computers.

How You Can Get Involved

Individuals, too, can take action to reduce the impact of the digital divide. The most important thing you can do is contact your representatives. Tell them you support the broad infrastructure changes and the federal government funding and policies needed to close the digital divide.

You can also donate both your time and money to groups dedicated to internet equality and digital literacy. Another step you can take is to join the NDIA as a friend or subscriber to stay informed about the issues and help resolve them. You can even donate your old devices to organizations like Close the Gap.

Continue to educate yourself to find more ways that you can create change. Topics like net neutrality and the 5G forecast may also interest you.

Keep Learning about the Digital Divide and Sociology

The impact of the digital divide is serious and far reaching. Locally and globally, digital inequality is keeping countless individuals from accessing the rapidly growing digital sphere. They face both social and economic setbacks that leave them at an unfair disadvantage. While many organizations fight for equal access to digital technology, the gap continues to widen.

However, reducing the digital divide is not a lost cause. After examining the digital divide through the lens of sociology, society can create new solutions and close the gap permanently. Stay up to date about the digital divide and sociology to find out what actions you can take to create powerful social change today.

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