I am interested in finding out the meaning of digital divide in the Pakistani scenario.
The notion of the digital divide has been taken from the Knowledge Gap Hypothesis. It entails that those who are marginalized lack opportunities to grow because of the in-accessibility of the various channels of knowledge like the New Media. However, the current debate on digital divide has extended beyond mere accessibility. It is discussed that with the proliferation of such media outlets, what is missing is the capacity for not just accessing these media but to analyse, evaluate and use these these media effectively. So now the focus is on media literacy than just accessibility issues.
I agree with you Qurratulann: It's not only the in-accessibility to digital information and knowledge which characterizes the digital divide; it's also the lack of competence of 1) the identification and appropriate use of relevant ools and environments for producing and sharing digital information and knowledge; 2) the critical analysis and the appropriation of digital information and knowledge as well as 3) the use and exploitation of digital information and knowledge in professional (or other) contexts.
Vicious cycle of poverty trap --> [Information asymmetry--->much more defects in reasoning and rationality in the lower party--->income inequality---->less investment in education---->less awareness---->Information asymmetry]
Digital divide fosters this loop
ICT diffusion slows down, even reverses this cycle.
It is not only about developed and developing countries. It happens almost in every country between commercially attractive high density urban areas and less attractive rural areas. If it is called "digital gap" or whatsoever, the difference is basically the same, availabily and access to information as was pointed out above.
It originally meant the gap between the people who have access to computers and internet from those who have not. It might be cause by lack of money, old adge (dificult to adapt), countries that do I citizen to connect with other countries trough the net.
This concept is relevant because most of the studies that are done include people who has access to the net, and not the ones that not. This studies provoide highly biased resulsts. This should be taken care of, and made clear in every paper, article, text that addesses only one side of the divide.
Thats true Mariana but even in developing countries like Pakistan where access is still an issue, there is a strong need to educate the masses especially the youth about the true potential of New media, beyound selfies & facebook etc. They need to be made aware of all that they can achieve.
I agree with Qurratulann... In developing countries like Pakistan access is still an issue in various parts where more than half of population don't even know to read. Moreover with that awareness level of our population is very less regarding the true potential of new media. Especially youngsters who are excessive users are more into SNS and such activities... so knowledge is there for them on internet but they don't know how to use it or analyze it.
Haves and Have nots in terms of Information and Information technology.
People with lower formal educational level are far from the digital world. At best, they will have manual jobs, earning at the end of their careers a lower value than the initial people of the digital world.
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