1.
The digital divide is several gaps in one. In order of priority in South Africa, this includes:
Technological divide
Content Divide
Gender divide
Education divide
Income divide
Age divide
2.
The best way to narrow the digital divide in the context of South Africa would be to focus on the
technological divide by improving the infrastructure and access to facilities, hardware and internet.
By concentrating on the technological divide, you are providing the public with the tools required for
gaining knowledge (apply what they have learnt), by engaging with technology.
Secondly, once access to the technology is achieved, you need to make the technology more
applicable by ensuring that the content is relevant to the end user (content divide).
In the context of South Africa this may mean ensuring that the content is in the language of the end
user and that it is culturally appropriate.
The third divide covered within the digital divide is the gender divide. In developed and
undeveloped countries, it has been shown that males have greater access to technology and
content. In a recent article by M. Chisiza, it was highlighted that the gender gap was not purely
related to technological infrastructure but rather includes issues such as socially and culturally
constructed gender roles and the fact that women may not have the financial means, level of
education or equal opportunity to engage with technology.
It is important to note that education and income are both significant factors in accessing ICT for
both males and females.
With regards to the education divide, in a Stanford study they also addressed that the varying levels
for education increase the digital divide. The gap in computer usage and internet access increased
with those with higher education such as a university degree compared to those with lower levels of
education.
The Income divide also has an influence in increasing the digital divide. Those living in rural areas
earning lower levels of Income won’t have the same access to home internet as those households
with a higher income level. This is due to the lack of infrastructure in these lower income or rural
areas.
Chisiza M. No Woman Left Behind – Closing the Gender Digital Divide, Huffington Post. 11 November
2017.
Accessed on 15 Feb. 18
The digital divide is several gaps in one. In order of priority in South Africa, this includes:
Technological divide
Content Divide
Gender divide
Education divide
Income divide
Age divide
2.
The best way to narrow the digital divide in the context of South Africa would be to focus on the
technological divide by improving the infrastructure and access to facilities, hardware and internet.
By concentrating on the technological divide, you are providing the public with the tools required for
gaining knowledge (apply what they have learnt), by engaging with technology.
Secondly, once access to the technology is achieved, you need to make the technology more
applicable by ensuring that the content is relevant to the end user (content divide).
In the context of South Africa this may mean ensuring that the content is in the language of the end
user and that it is culturally appropriate.
The third divide covered within the digital divide is the gender divide. In developed and
undeveloped countries, it has been shown that males have greater access to technology and
content. In a recent article by M. Chisiza, it was highlighted that the gender gap was not purely
related to technological infrastructure but rather includes issues such as socially and culturally
constructed gender roles and the fact that women may not have the financial means, level of
education or equal opportunity to engage with technology.
It is important to note that education and income are both significant factors in accessing ICT for
both males and females.
With regards to the education divide, in a Stanford study they also addressed that the varying levels
for education increase the digital divide. The gap in computer usage and internet access increased
with those with higher education such as a university degree compared to those with lower levels of
education.
The Income divide also has an influence in increasing the digital divide. Those living in rural areas
earning lower levels of Income won’t have the same access to home internet as those households
with a higher income level. This is due to the lack of infrastructure in these lower income or rural
areas.
Chisiza M. No Woman Left Behind – Closing the Gender Digital Divide, Huffington Post. 11 November
2017.
Accessed on 15 Feb. 18
