Digital Inequality Flashcards
Digital Divide
A term popularized in the 1990s to describe the gap and separation between those who had access to computer and internet and those who don’t.
computer literacy
literacy is beyond the ability to read and write a language, it is the ability to master process to use information in different contexts.
Why were they arguing about computer literacy?
some claimed it is the key to erasing social inequality, other argue it is complex because of other various access and engagement with tech. When everyone obtains computer literacy, the divide will be closed.
digital literacy
knowledge of how to access trustworthy information, produce digital artifacts, and communicate effectively with others through digital devices.
What do you need for digital literacy
it includes practical, social and cultural knowledge. You need to know how to interpret/decode information and it’s source.
alpha-numeric literacy
The ability to read and write in a language.
CMC literacy
The ability to read, write and interpret communication from others online.
Multi-media literacy
The ability to create digital object such as text, image, audio and video.
information literacy
the ability to effectively search for access, understand and archive digital information
How did the concerns about inequality begin?
at first, observers believed that the internet and especially the WWW would enhance equality of access to info, as technological euphoria wore off, however, observers noted that some kinds of people were more likely to use the internet than others. Concern over this form of inequality emerged as early as 1995, when just 3 percent of Americans had ever used the World Wide Web.
Digital Inequality
describes the differences in access to social, cultural and material resources necessary to access, use, interpret digital information and technology. there is other inequalities that exist in society thats why not every one uses social media the same.
economic capital
it describes material such as factories, equipment or money that can be used to reproduce wealth (means of production)
Why is economic capital needed
economic capital is needed to acquire technology, but we need other kind of capital to understand how to use technology.
social capital
connections to other people, it serves as a resource. Networks of social contacts that provide support either face to face or remotely. Face-to-face: family, friends, neighbors, tutors, other significant others, membership of groups/organizations
remote: online help facilities, connections on social networking sites.
cultural capital
a set of knowledge, tastes, interests, and practices that signal your social class and prestige to others. people who create content tend to have more cultural capital than those who read and circulate content. This is how you connect with people from your own cultural group and create a capital.
What can cultural capital be?
embodied: it subtly shapes our social worlds through taste and habitus.
Habitus: is the live world, he context into which one is socialized.
institutionalized: usually through formal educational institutions grant status and skills
objectified: in artifacts like books, movies, and music
What do those with low cultural capital have?
Studies show that those with low cultural capital have a “taste of necessity” that emphasizes practical efficiency or comfort, whereas those with high cultural capital have a “taste of liberty or luxury” that emphasizes self-expression or manner that may overlook functionality.
Apply low cultural capital to internet use.
those with low cultural capital have a taste for necessity and view social media activity instrumentally as a tool to find a job or look for information. Whereas those with higher cultural capital see it as a space for creative expression and self-building.
Homophily
the human tendency to affiliate with people who are like us
What are possible solutions to resolve digital inequality
- install computers in all public libraries in the state and expand the hours of accessing to the computer
- provide high-speed mobile internet access to the entire state, at a subsidized rate or free
- provide information literacy courses to enhance computer skills and enable knowledgeable use of digital technologies
- provide funding for technology trainers in every county
How does cultural and social capital shape our world?
We are partly shaped by whether we are digital natives or digital immigrants
digital natives: born after 1980s and socialized with technology all their lives.
digital immigrants: born before the widespread adoption of digital technology and adopt it to some extent later in life.
Age cohort
describes a group of people who are about the same age. social media can be affected by which age cohort you fall under
Children
characteristics: one children get to 7 and 8 years, they are able to focus on activities for longer stretches of time, and their memory, logical reasoning and problem-solving skills sharpen.
Teens
teen culture has shaped a number of social media practices from styles of video production to language for communicating quickly in text. Youtube, TikTok etc, are major players in teen self-expression and conversation. Many teens make videos to express a particular talent or point of view.
Adults
adulthood has three main stages which can impact digital media use. 1. young adults, 2. middle aged adults, 3. senior
