Digital divides revisited: what is new about divides and their research?

Abstract

This article critically reviews well-established and recent trends in digital divides literature and research, highlighting new elements of divides and the related research and making recommendations about future research. First, it disentangles some aspects of the puzzling nature and ongoing importance of digital divides. It then discusses how the concept of digital divides has evolved over the last two decades and how research literature has examined it on the basis of different attempts at contextualisation. The article brings together theoretical and empirical insights and suggests that digital divides be revisited so as to illustrate the need for less linear and more properly contextualised approaches to the concept and phenomenon of digital divides where technology, society and politics will be jointly taken into consideration to explain divides. It specifically proposes that digital divides and the research into these be revisited so as to emphasise the critical role of socio-cultural and decision-making dynamics in structuring the adoption of ICT in both qualitative and quantitative terms. Thus, it argues that the web of cultural traits in a society, with its own gaps and disparities, as well as policy and regulation dynamics, are in a constant dialogue with technology, together influencing digital divides and entailing implications for other forms of division in society.

Researching Transforming Communications in Times of Deep Mediatization: A Figurational Approach

“…While various innovations surrounding the smartphone and its apps have become widespread, the most recent assumption is that the 'internet of things' and its 'locations awareness' might once again change 'everything' (Greengard 2015: 60). However, we should generally be cautious about any 'rhetoric of the technological sublime' (Morley 2007: 235) related to the present pace of innovation, because complex articulations of segmentation and exclusion are evident as they are reflected in such concepts as divide (norris 2001;van Dijk and Hacker 2005;Zillien 2009;Livingstone and Helsper 2007;Tsatsou 2011). Being able to appropriate and adjust to certain media innovations means to be in a power position, no matter whether this is within the family, a group of friends or in certain organizations, especially when it comes to questions of regulation (Schulz et al 2011).…”

Digital Inclusion and Lifestyle Transformation among the Orang Asli: Sacrificing Culture for Modernity?

“…Globalization has resulted in ICT being ubiquitous, but the unparalleled power of the Internet for communication and information is restricted to those with access and capability (Tsatsou, 2011). In achieving set targets and performance criteria for the nation, the government should not lose focus on aspects of culture and ethnocentrism, especially if they involve minorities like the orang asli.…”

Contextualization of motivations determining the continuance intention to use smart devices among people with physical disabilities

“…Accordingly, scholars have noted increased accessibility to digital devices (Bonfadelli, 2002;DiMaggio et al, 2004;Gui and Argentin, 2011). For instance, Tsatsou (2011) argued that the first-level digital divide, known as the divide in access to digital technology, has diminished in the general population, especially in developed and developing countries. In regards to the first-level digital divide in Korea, the following points are striking.…”