Unit 3 - Section A: INEQUALITIES - Social Class Identity

Question 1

What is the digital underclass?

Answer 1

Those who have lower education levels + no employment appear to be those who have been left behind in growth + use of internet.

Question 2

Mertens and D’Haenens

Answer 2

Digital divide in Brussels and found a clear link between class and internet usage - those from lower social classes used internet less (81% compared to 94% of middle class). Also found a difference of how digital devices were used - those from lower social classes used technology as a form of entertainment, whereas middle classes used devices to boost knowledge and to research different information. 79% of those from lower social class owned a games console, opposed to 65% of middle class. Social class was the biggest factor affecting digital inequality as opposed to issues based on gender or ethnicity.

Question 3

Helsper

Answer 3

UK: researched youths and use of digital technologies, found evidence to suggest that digital underclass was forming, despite improvement in access and skills. Those who have lower education levels + no employment appear to be those who have been left behind in growth + use of internet. Government plans to make public services digital by default, so individuals unable to access them. Children from poorer homes are becoming victims of a digital divide as parents lack skills to help use the internet more effectively as middle class counterparts. Children from better backgrounds not only had access to WWW, but likely to exploit an array of resources.