I'm not sure what the issue of the digital divide really is. There are computers open for free use in public libraries across the nation, and people can get to them. There are computers open for use at universities and for a small price at internet cafes. There are communities where access to the internet is widely provided, so is the issue in that people don't know how to use it?
Maybe they don't know how to access the internet, or use the programs that get you there? Or perhaps because people don't have webcams they can't post their opinions on youtube? Is it the case that perhaps someone can't make a flash cartoon because they can't afford to buy Flash? There are so many place where digital life can be divided. This is what Van Dijk apparently assesses in his introduction.
It's very easy to sit back and say, "why is this even an issue?" So what if people don't know how to use the internet. The point is, at this current point in time, not knowing how to use the internet can leave a person at a great disadvantage in the world. Certainly not being able to use the internet is not the end of the world, but you can save a lot of money by getting things that you need online, and it's definately not a bad idea to do so.
Maybe there are less superficial reasons for needing to have access to the internet, however, at this point in time I doubt there's anything important that you can do online that you can't do IRL.
1 comment:
You approached this issue from a national perspective. I think the concept of the digital divide makes a little more sense when applied internationally. Like you said, there are so many computers available for use here in the US, but in many other countries that's not the case...and the divide becomes much more apparent.
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