What Role Does Poverty Play In The Digital Divide

What is the digital divide? How does poverty play a role in the digital divide? What does all of this do for education? More schools are starting to require students to have internet access or do work online. There are some solutions to the problem, but are they actually realistic. Can we get internet into all households across the nation? The dictionary defines the digital divide as the difference between people who have opportunities to benefit from digital resources and those who do not have the same opportunities and skills. According to the 2013 United States Census, 74.4% of Americans have some type of internet access. But is this a true statement? Public libraries are a great way to get internet access and computer access. However, in 2012, 23 state reported budget cuts to their public libraries (american library association). So while public libraries do give everyone internet access, budget cuts will make it hard for libraries to keep computers up to date. If computer
The most obvious factor is income. Education. Knowing how to use the technology once you have it is a big thing that limits most people to what they can do with a computer. The third Factor is race. Statistically race does play a part in computer and internet access. The last factor that makes the digital divide, is that the baby boomer generation did not grow up with access to computers and internet. Since they did not have access to these things, most people from that generation do not have the skills to work the computer. Because of this, it is harder for them to navigate the internet and other resources on the computer. Since more companies are now requiring you to do your paperwork online, this is not easy for people who do not have basic computer skills to access and complete this