Digital divide

The digital divide is the unequal access to digital technology, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and the internet.^[1][2] The digital divide worsens inequality around access to information and resources. In the Information Age, people without access to the Internet and other technology are at a disadvantage, for they are unable or less able to connect with others, find and apply for jobs, shop, and learn.^[1][3]

People who are homeless, living in poverty, elderly people, and those living in rural communities may have limited access to the Internet; in contrast, urban middle class and upper-class people have easy access to the Internet. Another divide is between producers and consumers of Internet content,^[4][5] which could be a result of educational disparities.^[6] While social media use varies across age groups, a US 2010 study reported no racial divide.^[7]