Reconceptualizing the Digital Divide
Open accessAbstract
This paper examines the concept of a digital divide by introducing problematic examples of community technology projects and analyzing models of technology access. It argues that the concept provides a poor framework for either analysis or policy, and suggests an alternate concept of technology for social inclusion. It then draws on the historical analogy of literacy to further critique the notion of a divide and to examine the resources necessary to promote access and social inclusion.
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The digital divide-the gap between those who have and do not have access to computers and the Internet-seems to be a huge factor limiting the feasibility of e-learning in a South African context.
“In addition, the digital divide-the gap between those who have and do not have access to computers and the Internetseems to be a huge factor limiting the feasibility of e-learning in a South African context (Van Deursen and van Dijk, 2019;Warschauer, 2002).”
From Emergent transition from face-to-face to online learning in a South African University in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic (2020) · cites this paper as Warschauer, 2002
Issues such as socio-economic factors, race, social class, gender, age, geographical area and educational background determine the level of the digital divide in a university context.
“These latter studies further assert that issues such as socio-economic factors, race, social class, gender, age, geographical area and educational background determine the level of the digital divide in a university context.”
From Emergent transition from face-to-face to online learning in a South African University in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic (2020) · cites this paper as Warschauer, 2002
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Bunz, U., Curry, C., & Voon, W. (2007) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2006.03.008 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Warschauer, M.
- Corresponding author
- Warschauer, Mark
- ORCID
- Warschauer, Mark
- Venue
- First Monday
- Publisher
- University of Illinois Libraries
- Published
- 2002-07-01
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 7
- ISSN
- 1396-0458 (ISSN-L)
- 1396-0466
- OpenAlex
- W2031236081
- Cited by
- 569
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 45 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 107.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- First Monday (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › General Social Sciences › Information Society and Technology Trends
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Media Technology › ICT Impact and Policies
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › ICT in Developing Communities
- Keywords
- digital divide, access to technology, social inclusion, digital inclusion policy
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