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.