Social implications of digital divide in global context: an appraisal

Digital divide is a social phenomenon, involving the spread of technological innovations inside various social systems. It refers to the separation between those who have access to digital information and communications technology (ICT) and those who do not. ICTs have restructured the global economic and social equation i.e., shifting from income divide to knowledge divide. Knowledge has become basic form of capital, and the economic growth is driven by the accumulation of knowledge. Although this knowledge society offers many potential benefits to developing and developed countries but its access, dissemination and control carries, at the same time the real danger of a growing economic and digital divide and gap among and within nations. The paper illustrates that digital divide threatens to widen the already existing developmental gap between the rich and poor among and within countries. The majority of world's people will not be able to benefit from this revolution unless they are enabled to participate fully in the knowledge based information society. This is what happens in knowledge societies. Those who have access to knowledge and related technologies can take advantage of emerging economy and thus the economic advantage. This is true in case of both the individuals and nations.