[DD] - “A New Understanding of the Digital Divide” by Mary Beth Hertz – Edutopia (October 24, 2011)

“A New Understanding of the Digital Divide” by Mary Beth Hertz – Edutopia (October 24, 2011)


This article was extremely similar to the first article – stating that the first “digital divide” dealt with people that had access to technology and those who didn’t. Now, the “digital divide” is changing. In 2010, laptop ownership among African Americans and White broke even and Hispanic and African American Internet users (11% is 2000) rose to 21% (making technology access more accessible for both minorities and non-minorities).


The recent advancements in cell phone technology, has allowed previously unconnected populations (primarily minorities) to become connected to the Internet. Pew has reported that 51% of Hispanics and 46% of African Americans use their cell phones to access the Internet as opposed to only 33% of Whites. The cell phone is truly how minorities access the Internet. Although cell phones have helped to narrow the “divide,” however, this type of Internet access is slow and unreliable.

This divide is even worse for those who live in rural areas of the country. These students do not have access to wired Internet let alone have cell phone service which can provide them access via their phone. These students are left in the dark since they have no medium to access the Internet. One woman commented on this article stating that her district purchased netbooks for their students (7-12th grade), but they became useless items since the students do not have Internet at home. She commented that “students who do not have access are left behind before they even begin. They are not only left out of the educational possibilities and opportunities afforded those with Internet, they are also left out of the social aspects of the Internet which are critical in today’s world.” Her students also have online textbooks and learning materials (created by the textbook companies and purchased by the school district) which cannot be used by the students outside of school due to lack of Internet access.


Another important fact that was stated in this article was that the new “digital divide” which affects the type of access divide also includes those with disabilities since there are now laws stating that websites need to be accessible for all.