What is the digital divide Who is affected by this divide and why
... Even those who don’t have access to the Internet are affected by the communications technology simply because they can’t use it. While those with the Internet are accessing information and partaking in the ‘global village’, those without are at risk of being left behind and disadvantaged by what is known as the ‘digital divide’. This essay aims to look at what the digital divide is, who is affected by it in Australia and why. ... This creates the ‘digital divide’ between the 10 million people who do have the Internet and the 8 million that don’t. ... Jennifer McLaren, co-author of a report outlining the need for The Smith Family’s ‘Learning for Life’ program, stated that the digital divide was increasingly putting disadvantaged families at risk of being ‘left behind’ in Australian businesses, schools and the community in general. ... It’s not just students that are affected by the digital divide. ... Everything from being able to purchase the best seats for concert tickets to being provided with up-to-date political information can be affected by the use of communications technologies. An example of how political issues are being affected by the Internet is the Australian Government’s commitment to providing online access to government information. ... In conclusion, the digital divide is the gap between those who can afford to have frequent access communications technologies (particularly the Internet) and those who can’t.