5.2 Digital Divide

Enduring Understanding

While computing innovations are typically designed to achieve a specific purpose, they may have unintended consequences.

Learning Objective

Describe issues that contribute to the digital divide

Essential Knowledge

Internet access varies between socioeconomic, geographic, and demographic characteristics, as well as between countries.

The “digital divide” refers to differing access to computing devices and the Internet, based on socioeconomic, geographic, or demographic characteristics.

The digital divide can affect both groups and individuals.

The digital divide raises issues of equity, access, and influence, both globally and locally

The digital divide is affected by the actions of individuals, organizations, and governments.