DIGITAL DIVIDE

The Full electronic participation in Society

(Ribble, 2011)

ISSUES SURROUNDING
ACCESS
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
A DIVIDE IN INFRASTRUCTURE
A DIVIDE IN CONTENT
A GENDER DIVIDE

A SKILLS DIVIDE
THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS
DIVIDE
How can we assist the government to solve
the issues around access?

THE DIGITAL DIVIDE- a Socioeconomic divide.

Socioeconomic- the interaction of social and
economic factors.

Socioeconomic factors impact digital divide

especially within developing countries like South
Africa.
Low-income families, pensioners and disabled South
Africans are being left behind in the so called Digital
Divide due to the inequality evident amongst society
due to the populations current economic situation.
A total of 10% of South African households have internet access at
home. Resulting in 90% of South African households without
internet connectivity whatsoever.

A DIVIDE IN
INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPING

vs.

DEVELOPED

countries

lies

the

issue

of

infrastructure.
Developed countries such as America have a far

greater

advantage

of appropriate and up-to-date infrastructure as

opposed to developing countries like South Africa. It is the
infrastructure of developing countries that often lack the broad
range of access creating a wider digital divide.
An example includes South Africa and how its poor electricity
infrastructure, which is currently under extreme pressure, results
to rolling blackouts which the majority of South Africans tend to
experience on a daily basis. Due to infrastructure restrictions,
coupled with socio economic factors, people in townships and rural

areas utilize their mobile phones as a point of access to the

internet.
17.9 % of rural households go online using their mobile
devices. COSTLY EXERCISE resulting in the Digital Divide
deepening.

A DIVIDE IN CONTENT
According to Dutton (2004), nearly 70% of websites
are in English. Although this has changed
substantially, the fact of the matter remains that
English dominates the web.
Due to translating applications, the Divide in
Content has minimized drastically although South
Africa, which is a country consisting of 11 African

languages can only access the internet in English

and IsiZulu. Creating a Divide in Content.

A GENDER DIVIDE
According to a 2013 report, the Internet gender gap is
notable in developing countries, with very real consequences
to the girls and women of those communities.
The statistics show that, on average, women are online in
developing countries 23% less than that of their male
counterparts. In some cases, this gap is over 40%.
Leading to consequences such as people deriving huge
benefits through the use of access to the Internet. These
include economic and educational opportunities,

access to support communities,

accessing career opportunities.

as

well

as

A SKILLS DIVIDE
Having the skills to operate a computer is probably the
biggest opportunity anyone in todays society can have
due to technological advancement.
Although accessibility is increasing, skills are not necessarily
conforming at the same rate of increase. These skills relate
to digital literacies.
Digital illiteracy is a major issue throughout the world.
Specifically in developing countries such as Zimbabwe
where government financing is not provided towards
developing computer labs in schools all throughout the
country.

It is vital for every citizen to have some sort of basic

computer/ technological knowledge to survive through
everyday life.

THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS DIVIDE

Another issue pertaining to digital access is that of
those who are physically disadvantaged.
Those that suffer from some physical disability
are often disenfranchised when it comes to access,
not because of the lack of skills but, moreover,
the hardware and software utilized and available.

Furthermore, the cost of such hardware and

software is exorbitant.

How can we assist the government to solv

Issues around access?
CREATE NON
PROFIT
ORGANISATIONS TO
Help THOSE WHO
ARE COMPUTER
ILLITERATE.

RAISE FUNDS
TOWARDS
BUILDING IT LABS
FOR THE
LOCATION.

GET INTOUCH WITH A

GLOBAL SEARCH
ENGINE COMPANY LIKE
GOOGLE TO EXPAND
THE LANGUAGE OF
CONTENT AVAILABLE
.
ONLINE

LOOK AT THE
POSSIBILITY OF
EXPANDING
BANDWIDTH TO
RURAL AREAS.

Thank You!