INTRODUCTION
The existence of Information and communication technology
(ICT) as one of key drives of globalization has become the foremost discussion
around the world. Internet, for example, is often assumed to bring the “death
of distance” in a term it eliminates physical and virtual seclusion among
countries around the world. At the same time, ICT’s usage is also fastly
increasing. Countries with abundant access to technology into “ the
information-haves” and the rest into “the information-have-nots”. Obviously,
this separation of classes into information winners and losers should come with
influencing factors. What are they and how would they appear become one of the
focus in this article.
Research Purposes and Approaches
The purpose of this research is to convey the concept of
digital divide in global society.
LITERATURE REVIEW
History of Digital Divide
Historically, the term digital divide rose publicly in the
mid-1990s as the National Telecommunications and Information Administrations
(NTIA) survey (1995), as cited in Servon
(2002 , p.2 ), identified the existence of a divide which ‘’separates people
with access to information technology from those without it’’ in America. In
short the digital divide can be understood this disparities in access to
information and, communication technologies. Furthermore many reports are
showing that the digital divide exists not only in America but also among
countries in the world especially between developed and developing countries.
Hence, the developing countries are believed to be the information “
have-nots’’.
Multifaceted Nature of the Informations
Have-Not
Most people believe that there are several factors to explain
why the developing countries are trapped “the information have-nots”. First
factor is the market influence which correlates to high price of computers and
internet services in developing countries. Second is an equal investment in
infrastructure inadequate provision on of high-and telecommunication facilities.
Lastly, discrimination which implies in unbalanced usage of ICT due to ethnic
‘groups’ sentiment. Among this, market influence is considered to be the major
reinforcement of technology gap. However, the digital divide is not only linked
to issue of physical access. People need basic ICT devices but digital divide
is much more complex. In order to use internet productively people must acquire
cognitive skills.
Digital Divide And Information Society :
The State of Winner or Loser?
Giri argues that understood, the digital divide reflects
broader context of social and economic relations between developed and
developing countries. The ideal explanations is that digital divide many fests
with socio-economic disparities. These disparities as believed will produce
what Fuchs and Horak call “classes of winners and losers of the information
society”. Van Dijk even reflects that the digital divide will almost likely
affect the social and economic progress in developing countries.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, disparities always
exist in the world.one of these disparities is digital divide which takes
information and communication technology into account. This divide presents
many hurdles at international sphere since it is not only talking about
inequality in ICT access and skills but also suggesting a broader context of
international socio-economic gap between developed and developing countries.
Thus, a lot of efforts have been taken in diminishing the gap even though
certain barriers still remain.