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Inequality in the Internet Age: A Twenty‐First Century Dilemma *
Author(s) -
Stern Michael J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
sociological inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.446
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1475-682X
pISSN - 0038-0245
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-682x.2009.00314.x
Subject(s) - dilemma , inequality , sociology , the internet , epistemology , philosophy , computer science , mathematics , world wide web , mathematical analysis
We now live in a networked, global environment where having instant access to news and data—the currencies of the information age—require computer-mediated technologies and the competency to use them. Though knowledge-intensive activities are a critical component of the modern economy (Hargittai 2002), access to and proficiency with information and communication technologies are not equally shared among populations within countries or between countries themselves. The unequal allocation of digital resources insures that some countries and populations will find it difficult to compete in the global game of life (Norris 2001). This special section, ‘‘Inequality in the Internet Age: Macro and Micro Perspectives,’’ is an extended discussion of this nascent form of human disparity. The goal of this project was to bring together several scholars whose work is expanding our understanding of the disparate distribution of information and communication technologies as well as differences in human proficiency with these resources. The study of inequality and new media technologies encompasses a wide variety of perspectives and units of analysis; our contributors and their work reflect that diversity.