Search

A more equal and sustainable digital future depends on the inclusion of digitally marginalized communities in the socioeconomic opportunities created by digital technologies. Digital inclusion is a complex process that involves all stages of digital innovation, including development, adoption, use, and maintenance. However, past research has largely approached digital inclusion as an adoption and use challenge. In this paper, we develop a view of digital inclusion as a design challenge. We focus on the activities of requirements elicitation (RE) as a critical element of the design process and draw on a design-based interpretive study involving the design of two mobile apps for agricultural communities in India and China. We analyze how the conditions of digital inequality underlying the digital marginalization of these communities affect their sensemaking as they participate in RE activities. We conceptualize these challenges as limitations on the emergence of technology affordances. Our findings reveal various shifts, or translations, in the emerging affordances, which enabled the RE activities to be more generative and consequently more inclusive. These affordance translations manifested along three main dimensions: specificity, temporality, and collectivity. We discuss the implications of these findings for the inclusion of marginalized communities in the design of new technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are about 13 million visually disabled people in China, among which more than 8 million are blind. As an information-vulnerable group, they have unequal access to digital media. In this context, this study, by applying domestication theory, analyzes the use of digital media by the visually impaired in China based on 40 deep interviews and finds out that digital media, as a necessary opportunity, can indeed create more possibilities for increasing the social participation and improving the daily life of the visually impaired. But due to systematic and personal factors, this opportunity cannot be enjoyed by all visually impaired people. Visually impaired people have a strong subjective initiative, which can weaken the impact of digital exclusion on themselves to a certain extent. But social inclusion still determines the effect of digital inclusion, which needs to be taken seriously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the progress of the information society, there are currently still notable differences between the access to, and usage of, information and communication technologies (ICTs) and Internet for a broad range of activities by individuals in the regions of Italy and Spain. These differences could be related to features of material and social deprivation. With 13 variables of the 40 NUTS 2 of Italy and Spain, deriving from EUROSTAT regional statistics for 2018, the aim is to respond to the following questions. Is there a relationship between the variables of ICT access and usage by households and individuals and those of social and material deprivation in the regions analysed? What is the interrelationship? Are there differences between Spanish and Italian regions in the behaviour of spatial and regional factors? Factor analysis was used to discover the relationship between variables; spatial patterns were identified by means of spatial autocorrelation; and a typology of regions has been identified by using cluster analysis. The results show that there is a relationship between the variables of ICT access and usage by households and individuals and those of deprivation in Spanish and Italian regions, and indicate that the advanced and daily use of Internet in households is negatively associated with the variables of social deprivation; and the regions with higher levels of per capita income and daily access to Internet have less employment-linked material deprivation. These results also reveal the existence of a north–south spatial pattern in both countries, and six types of regions with homogeneous characteristics have been identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the evolution of Internet speed and its implications for access to key digital services, as well as the resilience of the network during crises, focusing on six major Brazilian cities: Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Fortaleza, Manaus, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. Leveraging a unique dataset of Internet Speedtest® results provided by Ookla®, we analyze Internet speed trends from 2017 to 2023. Our findings reveal significant improvements in Internet speed across all cities. However, we find that prosperous areas generally exhibit better Internet access, and that the dependence of Internet quality on wealth have increased over time. Additionally, we investigate the impact of Internet quality on access to critical online services, focusing on e-learning. Our analysis shows that nearly 13% of catchment areas around educational facilities have Internet speeds below the threshold required for e-learning, with disadvantaged areas experiencing more significant challenges. Moreover, we investigate the network's resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding a sharp decline in network quality following the declaration of national emergency. We also find that less wealthy areas experience larger drops in network quality during crises. Overall, this study underscores the importance of addressing disparities in Internet access to ensure equitable digital services and enhance network resilience during crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the results of a large-scale, nationwide representative omnibus survey conducted in the spring of 2023, this study examines the relationship between electronic public administration, i.e. e-government, and digital competence in Hungary today. We compare the digital economy and society index (DESI)/digital decade 2030 2023 indicator and the relevant results of the 2022 national census of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (HCSO), to produce a more sophisticated picture. All dimensions of digital inequality, the correlations between digital competence and the reasons for the low scores for digital public administration skills are made clear. Once again, it is confirmed that competency in practice brings about competence, while a lack of practice generates competence deficits. In this study, we present a picture of the digital activity and the ability to use e-government of the Hungarian population by age group, gender, occupation and marital status, educational level and residential area at regional and county levels. The methods applied and the results of the research furnish an explanation for the reasons for the present situation of the human digital environment focusing particularly on e-government. It could be useful for further research and orientation in the wider geographical environment of Hungary, too, from the Baltic to the Balkans on the eastern edge of Central Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Disruptions in education may exacerbate digital inequality among college student groups. This study examined differences in and relationships between digital access, use, and connectivity, digital skills and engagement, and academic motivation among first-generation (learners whose parents/guardians have no college education) and continuing-generation (learners whose parents/guardians have a college education) undergraduate students in the United States (N = 1224; M age = 21, 902 women, 56.8% first-generation status) in the context of COVID-19. Most first-generation and continuing-generation students reported unlimited and stable internet access at home. First-generation students reported less frequent access to fast and reliable internet and using multiple devices for online learning. First-generation and continuing-generation students reported similar levels of digital skills and engagement in online learning. Digital access and various digital skills and engagement were differentially associated with academic motivation. First-generation students reported greater academic motivation than their continuing-generation peers. Implications for reducing digital inequality for undergraduate students are discussed.

The purpose of this article is to analyze the impact of artificial intelligence (hereinafter also referred to as AI) on social inequality. It is evident that AI not only brings about advantages but also serves as a means of infringing upon human rights, exacerbating social stratification at both the level of individual societies and on a global scale. Through the application of formal legal and comparative legal methodologies, it becomes apparent that the current practices of utilizing AI in various legal domains often fall short of achieving the intended objectives, sometimes even serving as a catalyst for discrimination and the perpetuation of social inequality. The paper underscores the active engagement of scholars and practitioners in addressing social inequality and other challenges associated with AI through the lens of AI ethics. The concept of AI ethics is explored, along with a critical analysis of ethical frameworks adopted by several technology companies operating in the field of artificial intelligence. It has been demonstrated that the primary cause of the emergence of social disparity in the realm of AI is not a dearth of ethical tenets in AI-driven algorithms, but rather a lack of adequate formalization of these ethical principles themselves into machine-readable language. It has been shown that the legal regulations in this domain, typically, are advisory in nature and emanate from corporations rather than from state institutions.

The relevance of the article is associated with the active development of digital technologies and the emergence of digital inequality as a new form of social inequality. The article considers the socio-philosophical aspects of digital inequality. The methodological basis of the study is general logical methods of analysis, generalization, comparison, classification, typification. The study used the principles of dialectical and systemic approaches: development, comprehensiveness of study, historicism. Attention is drawn to the fact that there are empirical studies of digital inequality, which consider the levels of digital inequality (global, social, individual), the evolution of forms of digital global inequality. However, a consistent socio-philosophical analysis of digital inequality, offering a theoretical basis and a categorical-conceptual apparatus for understanding this phenomenon, is not presented in scientific knowledge. Currently, there is no unified approach to the concepts of «digital inequality» and «digital capital». There is a need for a general definition of these concepts, which should serve as a starting point for further research of digital inequality and digital capital. Digital inequality exists in various forms related to access to the latest information technologies, the use of information and communication technologies, and social prospects for mastering ICT. The manifestation of digital inequality in the main spheres of society is considered: political, economic, social, and spiritual. Attention is drawn to the connection and interdependence of digital inequality and digital capital. Based on the theory of social capital and the concept of «habitus» by P. Bourdieu, the process of converting digital capital into other forms of capital is studied. The article shows that all types of capital are interconnected and an individual with economic, political, personal, and cultural capital can transform them into digital capital (the ability and skills to use the Internet). Digital capital, in turn, is converted into offline capital. It is concluded that the lack or limitation of access to the digital environment, a low level of digital competencies is one of the main sources of the development of digital inequality as a type of social inequality in a digital society. The article also draws attention to the need to take into account the social and cultural characteristics of individuals when studying the formation of digital capital and digital inequality. A conclusion is made about understanding digital inequality as an integral phenomenon associated with digital capital.

Objective: based on a systematic analysis of the actual level of international cooperation in overcoming digital inequality, to determine the parameters of its further development, taking into account modern legal and other barriers and global challenges caused by the transition from the knowledge economy to the data economy.Methods: the methodological basis of the research is represented by dialectics, comparative legal and historical legal approaches, and the method of system analysis.Results: the problem of digital inequality was considered in the following key aspects: access to the Internet; differences in the level of digital literacy; features of technology use and the versatility of digital inequality. It is noted that access to the Internet and digital technologies should become one of the fundamental human rights in order to ensure equal opportunities for all segments of society, since initially the crystallization of clearly expressed digital differences is based on the existing offline social differences. It was established that, in order to successfully overcome digital inequality, the key global task is to develop digital skills and literacy among the population. It is also important to stimulate the rational use of technologies and ensure people’s understanding of working with both the technologies and the data obtained through them. The authors propose to expand and deepen cooperation between developed and developing countries so that the latter can produce more data that may serve as a metric and a basis for creating development strategies. At the same time, greater transparency should be ensured by providing effective and accessible means so that the data owner can clearly understand who and why processes their personal data. The article argues that the transition from the knowledge economy to the data economy requires the adaptation of international cooperation strategies to ensure equitable access to both data and their processing. This may accelerate scientific discoveries and support inclusive economic development. The issues of fragmentation and defragmentation of international law are analyzed.Scientific novelty: it is due to the current lack of scientific results concerning the level of international cooperation achieved so far in overcoming digital inequality given the parameters of its systemic development and the main (legal and other) barriers.Practical significance: the study results can be used to improve the legal framework and strategies for international cooperation in overcoming digital inequality to ensure equitable access to data and their processing.

The relevance of the research is conditioned by the fact that artificial intelligence technologies are rapidly developing and have enormous potential, which can be successfully used for the benefit of humanity, but at the same time they pose many new challenges in conditions of social and ethical and legal uncertainty and pose a number of ethical questions regarding the future way of life of human society and ways, which will be followed by its further development. The article emphasizes that artificial intelligence has the potential to change the future of humanity for the better, however, artificial intelligent systems are inherently not neutral and are characterized by inherent bias, which is due to the initial data used in their “training”. Due to the magnitude of the social consequences of artificial intelligence technologies, many countries are now concerned about the ethical aspects of its use. In order to identify possible scenarios and use the potential of artificial intelligence to realize development opportunities while maintaining risk control, it is important to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the social changes caused by the increasingly expanding use of intelligent systems. It is concluded that the problems of using artificial intelligence must be considered through the prism of analyzing the social essence of a person, modern socio-cultural reality, humanistic goals and values of modern society. Any achievements in the field of artificial intelligence make sense only if they correspond to truly human values. To date, the absence of internationally approved ethical and legal norms and standards related to the application of developments and innovations in the field of artificial intelligence indicates the need for active and focused work of the Russian research community in this area.

Abstract We investigate the evolution of Internet speed and its implications for access to key digital services, as well as the resilience of the network during crises, focusing on six major Brazilian cities: Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Fortaleza, Manaus, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. Leveraging a unique dataset of Internet Speedtest® results provided by Ookla®, we analyze Internet speed trends from 2017 to 2023. Our findings reveal significant improvements in Internet speed across all cities. However, we find that prosperous areas generally exhibit better Internet access, and that the dependence of Internet quality on wealth have increased over time. Additionally, we investigate the impact of Internet quality on access to critical online services, focusing on e-learning. Our analysis shows that nearly 13% of catchment areas around educational facilities have Internet speeds below the threshold required for e-learning, with disadvantaged areas experiencing more significant challenges. Moreover, we investigate the network’s resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding a sharp decline in network quality following the declaration of national emergency. We also find that less wealthy areas experience larger drops in network quality during crises. Overall, this study underscores the importance of addressing disparities in Internet access to ensure equitable digital services and enhance network resilience during crises.

Amid global attention on the growth of China's e-commerce economy, prior research has focused more on demonstrating the digital dividends created by this new economy than on addressing the social inequalities that arise. One presumption in particular is that e-commerce economy will leverage the deterritorializing effects of digital technologies to create more equal opportunities for consumers in remote areas. Based on fieldwork with e-traders in Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province, and customers from a rural county of Tibet, this article argues that while e-commerce economy has eliminated trade barriers to a certain extent, it has also drawn new geographic boundaries and engendered new social divides in China. By exploring the e-traders' hierarchal conception of baoyouguo (literally, "the free-shipping kingdom") and their subsequent differentiated treatments of customers from different regions, this study illuminates China's emerging e-commerce geography and its consequences in the Internet age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and communication technologies affect the library performance as a public good, intended to efficient and complete response to the social agenda of various socio-demographic population groups. The digital gap has an impact on a library within the framework of creation conditions for the social well-being of the population. The role of public libraries is increasing in reducing the digital gap, strengthening the material and technical base, technological infrastructure, identifying digitally disadvantaged groups of population that tend to use library computers and broadband Internet more frequently than those who are more advantaged. Attention is paid to digital inclusion which is considered to be the instrument for solving personal, social and professional needs of representatives of various population groups. The effectiveness of digital inclusion largely depends on the professional competencies of library professionals, on their ability to develop programs for library users to help them assess the digital readiness to enter the digital world. The network approach to training library professionals in digital literacy is characterized as the most flexible form that facilitates translation of positive experience to large groups of library specialists. The importance of partnership in promotion the necessity of digital literacy between public libraries with government authorities, universities, research centers and charitable foundations is stressed.

The article solves the problem of comparing the influence of two factors – the presence of higher education and generational affiliation – on digital competence and on the behavior of young people in the Internet space. Approaches arising from the theory of digital inequality are involved to solve it. They are problematizing the importance of socio-demographic and other population’s characteristics for the use of information and technological innovations. Another important study aspect was the theory of generations. It made it possible to identify generations Y and Z, formed under the conditions of technological changes at the turn of the 20th-21st centuries. The article focuses on representatives of Generation Z. Their digital competence and behavior on the Internet is compared with higher education. Sources of the study: a sociological survey of young people in 8 federal districts of Russia conducted in 2023, data from analytical companies subjected to secondary assessment, materials from official statistics.Education is the third most important factor influencing the digital inequality of Russian youth, two other reasons are behind – place of residence and material security. Higher education maintains its position in ensuring the digital competence of young people. However, its presence does not affect the behavior of young people on the Internet. Representatives of Generation Z, who today are still studying at or enrolling in Russian universities, are not inferior to those who have higher education in terms of the information and technological innovations level of use. Digital natives are noticeably more likely than millennials to evaluate the Internet as a source of education, self-education, and broadening their horizons. Such a request creates new tasks for higher education. The article concludes with recommendations for Russian universities regarding their work in social media that is significant for generation Z.

Introduction. Access to information, digital products and services contributes to reducing barriers in individual’s interaction with state, organizations, and other individuals, also providing opportunities for human development. The author assesses the digital inequality level of the constituent entities of the Ural Federal District. Materials and methods. Theoretically, the research is based on the concept of three levels of digital inequality, according to which inequality can be manifested at the level of access to Internet and information and communication technologies; at the level of the users’ digital skills and competencies; at the level of benefits obtained from the use of digital technologies and impacting individual life chances. The materials used are: statistical data of the Russian information society development monitoring, research on the digital literacy of the Russian population, conducted by the Analytical Center of the National Agency for Financial Research, the Russian Association of Electronic Communications, the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation and the National Research University “Higher School of Economics”, as well as the results of an expert survey conducted by the author in 2023 with state civil servants of the Sverdlovsk region and employees of “Electronic government operator”, the state budgetary institution of the Sverdlovsk region. Results. The article reveals the specific features of digital inequality of the entities of the Ural Federal District. The geographical features of the region paradoxically affects the digital inequality level. The more compactly located territories of the Sverdlovsk, Tyumen and Chelyabinsk regions provide for the appropriate infrastructure with better broadband Internet access. A social consequence of low Internet access in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug is, in part, that not all medical organizations can be connected to the Integrated National Health Information System. In addition, there is no direct correlation between Internet access and digital skills development. On the contrary, remoteness and inaccessibility of territories act as drivers for the development of digital competencies of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and Yugra residents, who are more efficient in using digital technologies in e-commerce and public services. Discussions and conclusions. “Bridging the Digital Divide” federal program implementation will increase the information infrastructure availability. Conscious and focused effort is required to improve digital literacy and cyber hygiene of the population.

Due to the unequal gender division of labour in parenting practices, intensive mothering has been further reinforced in the digital age, amplifying mothers' otherwise implicit emotional work. Using data from 70 self-narration cases of Chinese mothers during lockdown learning, this study found that mothers experienced four kinds of negative emotions – anxiety, anger, frustration and guilt during online learning, and adopted two possible coping strategies – active self-reflection and passive intervention by others. This study foregrounded the unequal emotional work of Chinese mothers, especially the vulnerability in emotion management among mothers at lower socioeconomic levels. This study revealed how the ideological discourses constructed by intensive mothering influence Chinese mothers' emotions in digital educational involvement and the digital inequality it may trigger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nPoints of interestThe COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of internet access across various aspects of life, from remote work and online education to healthcare services and social connections. As we transition to a post-pandemic era, a pressing need arises to update our understanding of the multifaceted nature of internet access. This study is one of the first attempts to do so. Using survey data from New Zealand adult internet users (n = 960), it compares internet connection types, frequency of internet use at home, social media use, and concerns about online risk between people with and without disabilities. Results show people with disabilities have restricted fibre access and higher wireless broadband (a much slower connection type). People with disabilities use social media platforms less and are more concerned about certain online risks. The findings highlight persistent disparities in internet access for people with disabilities in the post-pandemic era. Implications of the study are discussed.The study explores internet access and compares trends between people with and without disabilities from New Zealand in the aftermaths of the pandemic.Internet access is investigated in terms of its frequency of use at home, type of internet connection, frequency of social media use, and perceptions about the benefits of the internet as well as concerns related to online risks.The data indicate that inequities in internet access exist. A disability broadband divide has been identified, with disabled people having less access to faster internet connections than non-disabled people.There were significant differences in the frequency with which people with and without disabilities used the internet at home and used prominent social media sites. People with disabilities are also more concerned about internet threats like conspiracy theories and hate speech.The study explores internet access and compares trends between people with and without disabilities from New Zealand in the aftermaths of the pandemic.Internet access is investigated in terms of its frequency of use at home, type of internet connection, frequency of social media use, and perceptions about the benefits of the internet as well as concerns related to online risks.The data indicate that inequities in internet access exist. A disability broadband divide has been identified, with disabled people having less access to faster internet connections than non-disabled people.There were significant differences in the frequency with which people with and without disabilities used the internet at home and used prominent social media sites. People with disabilities are also more concerned about internet threats like conspiracy theories and hate speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments around the world have paid considerable attention to Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) initiatives. However, there is no clear evidence that current digitization strategies are meeting the expectations of inclusive and sustainable development. Based on panel data from Chinese prefecture-level cities, this paper constructs a quasi-natural experiment with the establishment of the National Comprehensive Big Data Pilot Zones (BDPZ) to examine whether and how big data-based digital policies can address the digital divide. The results show that the construction of the BDPZ significantly contributes to addressing the territorial digital divide. And this policy effect is influenced by factors such as regional innovation capacity, geographical location, and administrative authority. The mechanism analysis shows that the institution-led diffusion effect and administrative supply diffusion effect under the authoritative diffusion model, and the market-driven diffusion effect under the induced diffusion model are the intrinsic mechanisms of BDPZ in addressing the digital divide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article studies the ways in which digital inequality reinforced the reproduction of gender inequalities under the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a national survey applied in Argentina between 2020 and 2021, it analyses how gender differences in terms of access to devices, connectivity and development of digital skills resulted in greater difficulty among women for developing care and pedagogical accompaniment tasks and for teleworking. Thus, it is questioned whether the flexible nature of the latter entails an opportunity for female employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital literacy (DL) training improves the participants' digital skills and engagements and achieves desired online benefits and opportunities. However, there remains a gap in understanding whether the acquired skills effectively translate into tangible outcomes. This study explores how digital literacy training programs (DLTPs) serve as solutions to mitigate the impact of the digital divide, particularly among marginalised rural populations. Using the corresponding fields' model, we explored the internet outcomes achieved post-training, as achieving meaningful outcomes is crucial in the digital age. In-depth interviews of 60 beneficiaries of the PMGDISHA programme, a DLTP run by the Government of India, were conducted, and thematic analysis was performed to identify the internet outcomes based on Helsper's corresponding fields (2012). The findings demonstrate that training significantly impacts digital engagement and internet outcomes across online fields. However, discrepancies in internet outcomes persist among participants, and these disparities are closely linked to participants' socio-demographic and economic characteristics. To create a more equitable digital landscape, digital inclusion initiatives must consider these elements and tailor their approaches accordingly. These findings significantly impact policymakers, managers, practitioners, trainers, and researchers in bridging the digital divide and creating a more inclusive digital society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the Internet of Things (IoT) is making its entrance in people's homes, differences in the skills to operate smart home devices need to be considered. This study examined (1) the levels of digital skills to use IoT home automation among Dutch adult citizens and (2) differences of these skills over gender, age, and education. Therefore, a performance test with actual real-life tasks was conducted among a representative sample (N = 99) of the Dutch adult population to measure digital skill levels. The participants performed tasks while using interconnected smart home devices in a virtual test environment. The results revealed that the Dutch adult population possesses insufficient data and strategic skills to use smart home devices to its full potential. Even less likely to benefit are the elderly and less educated; they showed the lowest levels of data and strategic skills. In addition, the elderly lack operational skills to use IoT home automation beneficially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid the increasing reliance on digital tools and services in education, this article examines the datafication and commodification of student life in Denmark. We analyse the web and app (iOS and Android) versions of 45 tools and services that teachers in Danish public primary schools use as part of their teaching, the types of data generated by them, and the market actors harvesting and distributing the user data. The analysis finds that the websites and apps collect significant amounts of user data, use it for functional as well as commercial purposes, and distribute it to a long list of third-party services. In light of these findings, we reflect on how the increasing datafication of school life and the inherent commodification of digital learning challenge established welfare state ideals surrounding public schooling, raise challenges for schools and teachers alike, and create new inequalities amongst students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet privacy has been proposed as a new dimension of the digital divide. Although Internet privacy relates to all segments of the population, older Internet users are particularly vulnerable because they generally have lower Internet skills. Coupled with their high level of privacy concerns, this can dissuade them from fully engaging in a variety of Internet uses. As older adults overcome their limited Internet skills by asking others to perform online activities on their behalf, a practice known as use-by-proxy, it is likely that this is also a strategy for dealing with Internet privacy concerns. Therefore, we examine how Internet skills, along with Internet privacy concerns and perceived privacy control, influence their Internet uses and use-by-proxy. To this end, we develop an integrative conceptual model and test it with structural equation modelling using data collected in November 2021 from a nationwide sample of 460 Internet users aged 65+ in Slovenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Digital inequality scholarship has highlighted the importance of sociodemographic factors and internet experiences in how people use digital media in their lives. Some of this research has focused specifically on the adoption and use of social media, but much of this work has only investigated text-based platforms. Image-based sites such as Pinterest have largely been ignored in work about online participation inequalities. It remains unclear how existing findings about participation inequalities on text-based social media translate to image-based platforms. The present paper fills this gap by exploring differences in user engagement on Pinterest, one of the most popular social media platforms. The paper uses a mixed methods approach and analyzes both survey and interview data. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of the pipeline of online participation inequalities, a digital inequalities framework introduced by Shaw and Hargittai (2018). The survey data reveal that age, gender and internet skills strongly relate to participation on the platform. The interviews add more nuance by providing insights into reasons and motivations for Pinterest use as well as reasons for dropping out of the pipeline, beyond those identified in the survey. This mixed-methods approach allows insights into how participation barriers apply to image-based social media.

Despite the availability of effective treatment, medications for opioid use disorder are underutilized due to a variety of practical, political, and psychological reasons. Digital inequalities, such as limited access to technology, skills to leverage the technology for desirable outcomes, and social resources, may be contributing to negative health outcomes. In addition, broader health literacy plays an integral part in the capacity of individuals to appraise opioid medication-related online information. This paper explores the role of digital inequalities in the uptake of treatment for opioid use disorder. Given the shift toward telemedicine and online counseling for substance use treatment as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, more research into the digital inequalities faced by those who misuse opioids may provide insight into ways of engaging and encouraging this population to utilize treatment.

Digitisation represents one of the key directions of adult education and training in the post-COVID-19 times, but direct empirical evidence of its scope among learners is rather scarce after 2021. Therefore, the general aim of this article is to investigate the current state of the use of online learning platforms and resources in adult education and training throughout Europe. For this purpose, we utilise data from a dedicated survey in the Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (n = 4,000) from 2022, which cover a wide range of digitalisation as measured by the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). Our findings are consistent with DESI in the overall levels of online learning across the four countries. Beyond this, we provide two main findings. First, the patterns of digitalisation are different in formal (FAE) and non-formal adult education (NFE). We identify two corresponding modes of platformization based on how and how much online learning platforms and resources are used. Second, factors of participation in online learning differ in some regards from factors of participation in AET in general. Therefore, online learning seems to constitute a new layer mediating participation in AET, possibly introducing new forms of inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate how individuals are prepared to cope with or plan for their afterlife digital footprints, by examining how (1) access, (2) literacy, and (3) preparedness for digital afterlife work in concert to influence one's wellbeing. We found the indirect relationship between access and wellbeing and the influence of digital literacy on wellbeing was indirect, illustrating that the key to the puzzle is in the sequential step in which digital literacy incubates the readiness to cope with digital remains, which influences one's subjective wellbeing. One of the most unrecognized challenges facing digital traces is the exploitation of post-life remain of data, as the question of who accesses, owns, or controls personal data after death remains largely unanswered. We argue that the preparedness for digital afterlife represents a new form of social concern with real-life consequences, or even a newer space for inequality debates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe benefits obtained from home automation are promising and will become more pronounced as smart home technologies continue to develop. To achieve benefits, users require operational, data, and strategic skills to control and automate smart devices, retrieve and understand collected data, and make informed decisions. These skills were tested by providing assignments in a virtual test environment to 100 Dutch adult participants. The assignments were designed to measure different facets of all skills by using the functions, data, and automations of smart home devices. The results suggest that the Dutch adult population is not sufficiently skilled in using the smart home to its full potential; several skills related problems occurred in the tests. Furthermore, in terms of gender, age, and education, home automation further reinforces existing social-digital inequalities. Thus, earlier digital inequalities will remain present for some time, despite increasing device autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technology has proven helpful in enhancing economic growth and development in several countries globally. This article examines the root causes of low levels of digital technology usage in Zimbabwe and explores the opportunities it could tap into using digital technologies. Using qualitative research techniques, published literature from online repositories was reviewed. It emerges that the leading causes of Zimbabwe's low digital technological advancement are macroeconomic factors, poor infrastructure, irregular power supply in urban and rural areas, political upheaval, which affects the country's ability to attract investment, a lack of ICT-skilled experts, and poor institutional frameworks, regulatory challenges, high internet costs, information asymmetry, and complex tax regime structures. Leveraging digital technologies in the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors will boost Zimbabwe's economic growth. To benefit, it must develop and amend ICT policies, mobilize financial and non-financial resources, and form strategic alliances with technologically developed economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Policy & Internet is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Digital inequality refers to the differences in individuals' access to, use of and benefits from digital technologies. This study aims to explore the effects of demographic differences on digital cultural inclusion and exclusion. The study is designed using a sequential mixed model. The population of the study is consisted of individuals over the age of 18 living in the Sakarya province of Türkiye. The survey form was administered to collect data from 504 participants selected from the population by random sampling. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 8 participants who are considered capable of providing detailed information on the subject. The survey form contained statements intended to measure the access and benefit levels of the participants. The usage frequency is discussed via questions prepared by the researcher based on the Likert scale, considering the sub-dimensions of digital citizenship introduced by Mike Ribble. According to the results, the participants' access to digital technologies is at high level. Concerning digital technology usage, differences are primarily determined on the basis of the age factor. With regard to the level of benefits, the satisfaction level increased as the education level increased and age decreased. Results obtained through interviews suggested that using digital technologies activated those involved in this digital culture, made their lives easier, and allowed them to engage in popular issues. Finally, the participants thought that the activities in the new media helped them engaging in current events and get important news to cope with recent events and discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participation in online activities offers older adults enhanced opportunities to cope with age-related limitations and live a socially connected life. For investigating the factors explaining whether older adults use the internet or not, logistic regression has been used, which requires considerable care in the computation and reporting of regression models. The objective of this review is to assess the extent to which the empirical literature examining internet use among older adults (aged 55 +) addresses commonly recommended quality criteria for logistic regression analysis. We carried out a systematic search in Scopus and PubMed for English-language peer-reviewed articles reporting the application of logistic regression, published between 2010 and 2020. Thirty-six articles were eligible for inclusion. We evaluated the articles for six analytic and three documentation criteria. Every article described the selection of independent variables and their coding. Most studies had sufficient events per independent variable (83%), reported point and interval estimates of effect sizes (81%), and stated the fitting procedure used (81%). The reporting rates were lower for the assessment of model fit (53%), consideration of interactions (44%), and testing for conformity with linear gradient (42%) and collinearity (31%). This review provides comprehensive insights into the state of adoption of logistic regression analysis. We suggest improvements for reporting on the studies specific to older adults' internet use, which can promote the accurate interpretation of articles and the integration of evidence from single studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that the digital sphere has maintained the offline hierarchal forms of political, economic, and cultural powers, taking the Arab journalism sector as a topical case study. The article explores the potential of digital platforms as a new source of revenue for Arab news media and a new site for disseminating informative content that helps push the freedom of speech in the region. It demonstrates the difficulty of achieving either goal partly due to the monopoly of Big Tech over the digital advertising market and partly due to the competition among Arab media outlets to use clickbait content to lure audiences and hence increase superficial metrics such as clicks and shares. The article draws on different forms of evidence, including articles penned by Arab journalists, in which they reflect on their experiences in the digital sphere, papers by Arab scholars, in addition to informal conversations with selected Arab journalists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), such as the internet and mobile phones, facilitate the spread of knowledge and interactions across borders in previously unimagined ways, questions are being asked about whether the benefits of this digitization process are equally distributed between and within countries. Motivated by the way technology adoption and usage patterns may differ in the Arab Middle East, this paper examines how the Kuwaiti context shapes people's understanding of a survey instrument used for evaluating digital inequalities, as they relate to access, skills and engagement, and outcomes of ICT use. Specifically, it discusses the adaptation and validation of the survey measures of socio-digital inequalities through a process of cognitive interviewing and provides insight into the theoretical and empirical linkages between cultural conceptions of digital and traditional inequalities in ways that explore both their universal and contextual aspects, or denotative and connotative meanings. Evidence suggests that important cross-cultural complications relate to language issues, socio-economic conditions, citizenship, and differing perceptions of social desirability. These findings offer important considerations for improving the reliability and validity of future survey-scale adaptations in the broader MENA region, especially in countries containing significant multicultural populations. Simultaneously, they call into question the extent to which global conceptualizations of digital inequalities and their measures reflect complex local realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much has been said about the importance of digital inclusion in reducing the digital divide and ensuring equal access and use of ICTs for all. Generally, inclusivity has a positive connotation, meaning that no one should be left behind by digitalization processes. However, the inclusion of marginalized communities into the digital system could lead to new exclusions within the new system because it amplifies the pre-existing social inequalities that these communities face, creating digital inequality. By observing the implementation of School of Community Networks in 10 Indonesian villages, this article attempts to describe those inequalities and explain how rural communities actively design a strategy to make their involvement in Indonesia’s digitalization more meaningful. The conceptual framework developed in this study adopts a “periphery-centric” approach, aligning with the user-centric approach, as it examines from the perspective of marginalized communities how they perceive, understand, and utilize digital technology by generating new forms of innovation that have real impacts on their community, such as tailored applications for public services and local internet infrastructure to reach remote areas. The approach poses the problem and strategic dimension of the issue and puts forward the ownership and locality of these innovations to overcome digital inequality. With the meaningful use of digital technology, the inclusiveness of socially less-advantaged groups into the digital system does not immediately create new inequality; rather, they make themselves the center of their respective bottom-up innovation projects.

The internet has become very central to today’s society. The aim of this scoping review was to map internet use among people with an intellectual disability (ID) in Sweden, and to scrutinise the phenomenon from a critical perspective. The concepts of digital divide, digital inequality, social construction of intellectual disability, and power relations were applied to conceptualise the empirical material. The results showed that people with ID have limited access to the internet. A discrepancy in approaches towards internet use was identified. Generally, people with ID subscribe to a positive view of the internet. Among professionals a generally pessimistic view was instead identified. People with ID are described as a vulnerable and naive group, who presumably cannot protect themselves from the risks the internet entails. From a critical perspective, control of internet access could strengthen asymmetric power, and human rights of social participation are withheld from people with ID.

The article attempts to analyse the interim results of digitalisation of the Russian higher education system in the post-pandemic period. The research methods include an analysis of regulatory documents, statistical analysis of data gathered by the Federal State Statistics Service, and a secondary analysis of results from research centres of the Higher School of Economics, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, and others. The main findings are related to the analysis of dynamics of indicators responsible for transformation of the social space in the higher education system during digitalisation. The authors view the digitalisation of higher school as a factor that perpetuates social inequality and stimulates the development of its new forms. They conclude that maintaining distance learning in universities contributes to communication barriers within the student community and between students and faculty as well. Slow increase in the digital literacy of teachers is emphasised. During the analysis, the authors conclude that the transformation of higher school through digitalisation is progressing at quite slow rate due to unhurried provision of universities with financial, technical, and personnel resources necessary for the digital transition. The novelty of the work lies in documenting the results of the transformation of social relations within the higher education system during digitalisation and defining its characteristic features, including the readiness of participants of the educational process to implement specific state vectors of the transformation of the Russian higher education

Introduction. Since the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries, all areas of social management, including public management, have been seriously influenced by modern digital technologies, which, on the one hand, create new opportunities to increase the efficiency of management activities; on the other hand, they pose certain risks, potentially provoking digital inequality. The article presents an analysis of the prerequisites and causes of digital inequality in municipalities. The criteria for such inequality are identified and generalized. An attempt was made to find out the attitude of local governments and citizens, living under digital lockdown, towards the digital transformation of public administration and local economy. Proposals have been made to level the digital divide in municipalities. Theoretical analysis. The problem of digital inequality has been the focus of attention of researchers for over 20 years. However, the scientific discourse on digital inequality is still fragmented: there is no universal interpretation of this phenomenon in the theoretical aspect; there are no uniform parameters for measuring it, and no algorithm for overcoming it has been developed. It is noted that approaches to understanding digital inequality and its consequences have undergone major changes: from unhindered access to the Internet to a person’s request to use digital resources, including those in the field of local government. Empirical analysis. The analysis of the legal regulation of digital transformation was carried out. As a result, it was concluded that flexible or “soft” legal regulation of the digitalization of public administration currently prevails. It is indicated that a special federal law regulating the process of digital transformation in the public administration system and in the local government system, respectively, has not been adopted in the Russian Federation. The criteria for assessing the digital inequality of Russian subjects, the possibility and feasibility of scaling them to the level of local government were analyzed. Results. Based on the results of the study, it is shown that at the local government level, digital inequality is an urgent problem that has a complex technological, socio-economic, socio-cultural and legal nature. It has been proven that there has been a transformation in the essence and understanding of digital inequality: from the problem of access to digital technologies to ensuring equal conditions for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights through such technologies, including the right to local self-government. A proposal for a special program approach has been made to overcome the digital divide in municipalities.

Copyright of Journal of Psychology & Sociology is the property of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article aims is to analyze the internet utilization patterns of rural households in selected European Union countries, particularly focusing on Poland, and to assess the specificity and level of differentiation in this area between countries. The study divides European Union (EU) countries into clusters based on the share of rural residents' using the internet from 2004 to 2022. Employing Ward's method and k-means clustering with the squared Euclidean distance measure, cluster analysis is used for country grouping. Internet functionalities are analyzed to understand consumer behaviors. The study shows that European countries can be categorized into four distinct groups according to the percentage of rural inhabitants who had access to the internet. Internet functionalities revealed variations in accessing information, scheduling medical appointments, social networking, online courses, and political engagement across these clusters. It was found that digital inequality among rural inhabitants in the EU persists, with varying levels of internet usage and utilization of internet functionalities. The convergence hypothesis suggests that less developed areas experience faster growth in internet usage, potentially reducing disparities. Policies promoting digital inclusion and advanced digital skills training are essential to bridge the digital divide in rural areas. In conclusion, access to internet functionalities, especially in healthcare and education, remains a challenge that requires attention. The study emphasizes the importance of considering cultural and socio-economic contexts in understanding digital inequality. This research sheds light on the digital divide in rural EU regions and highlights the need for targeted interventions to enhance digital inclusion and improve the quality of life for rural residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]