Information and Communication Technologies, (ICTs) are
becoming very prominent to the society nowadays. The use of ICT has become
increasingly widespread over years. Living in the era of technology, the convenience
of ICT had improved the lifestyles of many within this society nowadays. The
advent of the information revolution came along with an evolving information
society that brought new and innovative transformations in societies mainly
focused on one resource, information (Porter & Read, 1998).
Today, it is stated that we live in the era of information revolution (Krotoski, 2010). Information are easily obtained anywhere with the help of ICTs. People simply gets handful of information just by a touch of the phone browsing the internet. The information revolution has marked itself as an era where technology breakthrough has profoundly transformed human behaviour and cultures (Boyd, 2008; Castells, 2010). Undeniably, various advantages could be obtained. Yet, people hardly understand that ICT had been transforming our human behaviour in a way that people are getting more and more relying on the existence of ICT. Over years, the effects of ICT look at how our daily lives have been changed, for better or for worse. It includes both positive effects and negative effects and looks at how individuals, organizations, and even society are affected.
(Source:
http://slipszenko.net/article/digital-divide)
ICT are reconfiguring our individual and social behaviour, stimulating us to habitually interact via remote communication (Boyd, 2008). Communications nowadays are mostly done through ICT, such as smartphones, Internet, and many others. ICT are continuingly evolving till the stage where people could even conduct face-to-face communication via Internet communication.
Students nowadays could even conduct learning through Internet too. Various learning courses are now available for everyone who has the access to the Internet. Even the distributions of certificates are becoming available for everyone if certain courses are taken and completed. Various learning process is going through with the help of ICT tools. For example, students in this era are required to use computers in completing their studies.
However, every nation has very distinct access to ICT. Not every nation is possessed with the same access to ICT. Therefore, inequality became an issue to be concerned when digital divide comes into picture. This had proved how most of the social behaviours are shaped and are distinct from one and another.
ICT are reconfiguring our individual and social behaviour, stimulating us to habitually interact via remote communication (Boyd, 2008). Communications nowadays are mostly done through ICT, such as smartphones, Internet, and many others. ICT are continuingly evolving till the stage where people could even conduct face-to-face communication via Internet communication.
Students nowadays could even conduct learning through Internet too. Various learning courses are now available for everyone who has the access to the Internet. Even the distributions of certificates are becoming available for everyone if certain courses are taken and completed. Various learning process is going through with the help of ICT tools. For example, students in this era are required to use computers in completing their studies.
However, every nation has very distinct access to ICT. Not every nation is possessed with the same access to ICT. Therefore, inequality became an issue to be concerned when digital divide comes into picture. This had proved how most of the social behaviours are shaped and are distinct from one and another.
Digital
Divide
Digital divide, is a social issue referring to the
differing amount of information between those who have access to the ICT, such
as media of information, Internet, ICT tools, and others, and those who do not
have the access. According to Mason and Dodds (2005), the digital divide is
defined as the gap between those who have access to digital technology at home
and those who do not. The factors that caused the gap include socioeconomic
status, ethnicity, and geographic location. Therefore, we can see different
society has characteristic differed from other societies. This is because most
of the social behaviours are shaped due to the evolution of ICT. And yet, when
inequality occurs, social gaps definitely became an issue to be concerned to.
Digital Divide on Education
In this era, existence of ICT became very important in assisting the process of education. However, not every person is possessed with the equal amount of access to ICT. A series of studies by U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (1999, 2000, 2002), for example, has called attention to how computer and Internet access is distributed unequally by race, income, and education. In the information age, being on the wrong side of the digital divide can limit significantly a person’s chances in life.
A research done by the Rossier School of Education founds that computer skills are now a requirement for any college students. Some students from low-income families may not be able to enter college due to insufficient technology background. And even some of the students that get accepted to college may not be able to finish their study due to lack of computer skills. The lack of basic knowledge on certain ICT tools sometimes could lead to failure in proceeding and continuing further studies. The lack of a college degree will result in more inequality issues within certain country.
Fuch & Horak (2007) defines the types of access to ICTs as follows; material access, which is the availability of hardware, software, applications, networks, and the usability of ICT devices, and application; whereas, usage and skill access is the capabilities needed for operating ICT hardware and application , engaging in online communication and cooperation. For example, students from low class income families might not be able to afford to buy computers for their education needs nowadays. In that case, they might not be able to continue their studies well.
As the digital divide does affect students’ educational outcomes in the long-term (Schulz, 2005), it is crucial to ensure that all students are having equal access to the technology use. The gap between children from low-income families and others might affect one’s education pipeline (Blossfeld & Shavit, 1993).
In this era, existence of ICT became very important in assisting the process of education. However, not every person is possessed with the equal amount of access to ICT. A series of studies by U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (1999, 2000, 2002), for example, has called attention to how computer and Internet access is distributed unequally by race, income, and education. In the information age, being on the wrong side of the digital divide can limit significantly a person’s chances in life.
A research done by the Rossier School of Education founds that computer skills are now a requirement for any college students. Some students from low-income families may not be able to enter college due to insufficient technology background. And even some of the students that get accepted to college may not be able to finish their study due to lack of computer skills. The lack of basic knowledge on certain ICT tools sometimes could lead to failure in proceeding and continuing further studies. The lack of a college degree will result in more inequality issues within certain country.
Fuch & Horak (2007) defines the types of access to ICTs as follows; material access, which is the availability of hardware, software, applications, networks, and the usability of ICT devices, and application; whereas, usage and skill access is the capabilities needed for operating ICT hardware and application , engaging in online communication and cooperation. For example, students from low class income families might not be able to afford to buy computers for their education needs nowadays. In that case, they might not be able to continue their studies well.
As the digital divide does affect students’ educational outcomes in the long-term (Schulz, 2005), it is crucial to ensure that all students are having equal access to the technology use. The gap between children from low-income families and others might affect one’s education pipeline (Blossfeld & Shavit, 1993).
(Source:
www.soschildrenvillages.org.uk)
Digital Divide on Internet
Consumption
The rapid developments of ICT have fundamentally change
may aspect of our daily lives and societies especially, the Internet. The
Internet have affected the way we all live, communicate, work, study, and
socialize in many ways. However, there are significant differences between
developed and developing countries in terms of accessing and using the ICTs.
This is defined as global define. The digital divide problem has geographic,
demographic, and socio-economic dimensions (Yuguchi, 2008).
Wilson (2004, p.300) defines the digital divide as “an inequality in access, distribution, and use of information and communication technologies between two or more population”. According to Wilson, there are eight aspects of the digital divide, such as financial access, political access, content access, and others. For example, citizens in China did not have access to Facebook due to some political reasons. This had not only caused unequal freedom rights, but also prevents one from obtaining additional information from around the world.
There are also philosophical and sociological sides of the digital divide because of a potential missed opportunity on the part of millions people to obtain desirable jobs and enhance their lives by using computers and the Internet (Friedman, 2001).
(Source:
http://slipszenko.net/article/digital-divide)
Social
Behaviour and Digital Divide
Human behaviour is affected by genetic inheritance, and
by experience, where people develop through social experiences. Everyone is
born into different social and cultural settings. Within a large society, they
may be many groups, with distinctly different subcultures associated with
region, ethnic origin, or social class. These are all involves with different
web of patterns and meanings. Digital divides are caused by different social
classes, political, geographical reasons and other factors, which might
influence how people live with their everyday life.
As Information and Communication Technologies has long played a major role in shaping human behaviour, the digital divides are considered one of the major factors explaining why most societies are differing from one and another. Differences between developed and developing countries have very different cultures among the nation. This is because digital divides reflects differing ICT access for users. This eventually reflects differences between each social behaviour from one and another. Therefore, adoption of behaviours will definitely be different from each others.
As Information and Communication Technologies has long played a major role in shaping human behaviour, the digital divides are considered one of the major factors explaining why most societies are differing from one and another. Differences between developed and developing countries have very different cultures among the nation. This is because digital divides reflects differing ICT access for users. This eventually reflects differences between each social behaviour from one and another. Therefore, adoption of behaviours will definitely be different from each others.
References
Chih, J., & Sun, Y. (2008). The digital divide and its impact
on academic performance.
Warschauer, M., Knobel, M., & Stone, L. (2004).
‘Technology and equity in schooling: Deconstructing the digital divide’.
Keniston, K., & Kumar, D. (2003). The Four digital divides.
Saheb, T. (n.d.). ICT,
education and digital divide in developing countries.
OECD. (2001). UNDERSTANDING
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.
Acılar, A. (2011) ‘Exploring the aspects of digital divide in
a developing country’. Issues
in Informing Science and Information Technology, 8.
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