Synonyms
Definition
The term “digital divide” refers to the disparities that separate segments of society and nations into those who have and those who do not have digital access, skills, and knowledge, which lead to differences in digital use, opportunities, and benefits. Initially the phenomenon was thought of as a problem of access, i.e., the divide that separates those who have access to information and communications technologies (ICT) and those who do not. As the issue came to be linked with social inequality, the understanding of the concept shifted to a focus on the different types, levels, and outcomes of digital use. In current research, the digital divide is viewed along three levels. The first-level digital divide involves differences in basic physical and material access. Physical access refers to access to computer devices while material access refers to access to the means to purchase Internet connectivity services. These types of access...
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Abbreviations
- ASEAN:
-
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
- EU:
-
European Union
- ICTs:
-
Information and Communications Technologies
- IDI:
-
ICT Development Index
- ITU:
-
International Telecommunication Union
- LDCs:
-
Least Developed Countries
- NRI:
-
Network Readiness Index
- NTIA:
-
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (US)
- OECD:
-
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- SDGs:
-
Sustainable Development Goals
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Valdez, V.B., Javier, S.P. (2020). Digital Divide: From a Peripheral to a Core Issue for all SDGs. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A.M., Brandli, L., Lange Salvia, A., Özuyar, P.G., Wall, T. (eds) Reduced Inequalities. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71060-0_107-1
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