1. Digital Divide in the
UK
Naomi Thomas and Hannah Thornley

2. What is digital divide?
The concept of digital divide is complex and
difficult to clearly define
However it is typically defined in terms of the
divide between information haves and have-nots
of people who are either connected to the
internet and have access to other new media or
not
Universal access
Practical embodiment of the wider theme of
social inclusion
‘Inclusive society’

3. Rogers (2003)
• Rogers (2003) understood digital drive diffusion
as primary a process of communication which
concerned the ways in which technological
innovation is communicated through certain
channels over time and among people within
given social systems

4. Age and New Media Use
The relationship between age and new media
• Revealed the older you are, the less likely you are to use the internet
and other new media
• Less than 20% of those aged 75 years and above are online
• Non-users are more found among the oldest and youngest groups
However
• Not all over 65s fail to use the internet
• Rather their generation is not familiar with this technology – lacking
social and cultural capital that would allow them to go online
• Home access – youngest and oldest age group are least likely to have
access to the internet at home (70% 9-11 year olds, 69% 18-19
years)

5. Difference in Ages
• Younger generation – instant
messaging, social
networks, interaction, entertainment
purposes (music, games)
• Older generation – instrumental
ways, shopping, banking, getting
information

7. Gender and New Media Use
• 65% of men feel confident about their technical
skills compared to 60% of women
• Men look for information on news and sport
• Women look for health information
• There is not much of a gap as the biggest area
for women is leisure and entertainment.
Whereas men are more likely to download music

8. Race/Ethnicity and New Media Use
• Ethnic minorities are disadvantaged when it
comes to opportunities as there new media is
expected to be different to that ethnic majorities
• USA based study (2008) found that white
children are using the computer longer then
black children
• Black boys use both computers and the internet
less then other groups
• Although black girls use the internet more often
then any other group

9. Inequalities and the digital
divide in children
• Most 9-19 years are daily or weekly users
– 84%
• Only 3% of UK 9-19 year olds have never
used the internet
• 78% of parents of 9-17 year olds are
internet users

10. Socio-economic Status and New
Media Use
• Middle class children are more likely to have access to
the internet than working class children
• Access is more easy for middle class children as it is more
likely to be in their bedroom
• Middle class children have a greater range and quality in
internet use as their parents are more likely to be expert
in using the internet
However
• Schools have helped those children who at home would
be digitally excluded –
• However government policy heavily supported internet
access to deprived children

11. Conclusions
• Use of new media and especially internet
is assumed to be a good thing and
therefore should not be any exclusions
• More information online and more
services using new media - now necessary
for all
• The gaps are closing in terms of gender
and ethnicity however the older you are
the less likely you are to use the internet

12. Bibliography
• Siapera E, 2012. Chapter 4 Understanding New
Media. Sage.
• Selwyn N., 2004. Reconstructing political and
popular understandings of the digital divide.
New media and society 6 341-362
• Livingstone, S.; Bober, M. and Helsper, E. (2005).
Inequalities and the digital divide in children and
young people’s internet use : findings from the
UK Children Go Online project [online]. London:
LSE Research

13. Thank you for listening
Naomi Thomas and Hannah Thornley