FRAMING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

INTRODUCTION

The existence of information  and communication technology (ICT) as one of key drivers of globalization has become thefore most discussion around the world. One of notable discussions is that ICT, such as dekstop computers, mobile phone and internet, has fundamentally changed our society as these modern means of communication can ”empower people, benefit bissiness and individual and virtually link people around the world to share their views, ideas and innovations”.

Research Questions

1.      What is digital divide and what factors that induced it tibe happened?

2.      What is APC and are its programs in undertaking the digital divide?

3.      How effective are  the APC’s programs in diminishing  the digital divide?

Research Purpose and Approaches

The purpose of this research is to convey the concept of digital  divide in global society, The research’s first section notes on background of digital divide, followed by discussion on some key notions of digital divide.

LITERATURE REVIEW

History of digital Divide

Historycally, the term digital divide rose publicy in the mid-1990’s as the National Telecommunications and Informations Administration (NTIA) survey (1995), as cited in Servon (2002, p.2), identified the existence of a divide which “separated people with to information technology from those without it” in America. Castells (2002),as cited in Fuchs & Horak (2008, p.248), identifies digital divide ad “inequalty to the internet” while Norris (2001, p.4) defines it as “any an every disparities within the online community”. Similary, Bridge.org (2001, p.2) concludes it as “the lost of opportunity for the information have-nots to use ICT to improve their lives. In short, the digital divide can be understood as disparities in access to information and communication technology.

Multifaceted Nature of the Informations Have-Not.

            Most people believe that there are several factors to explain why the developing countries are trapped in “the information have-nots” (Servon,2002,p.8). First factor is the market influence which correlates to high prices of computers and internet services in developing countries. Second is unequal investment in infrastructure taht suggest inadequate provision of high-end telecommunications, facilites, and lastly,discrimination which implies in unbalaced usage of ICT due to etnic group’s sentiment. For example, computers are still considered to be prohibitive exprenses in most of developing countires. In other words, the lack of material acces to ICT in developing countries plays a significant role in broadening the digital divide.

Digital Divide an Information Sociaty: the State of Winner or Lose?

The ideal explanation is that the digital divide manifest with sosio-economic disparities. These disparities as believed will produce what fuchs and horak (2008,p.4) call “classes of winner and losers of the information society”. For example,users who have more experiences with internet are more likely to have a higher sosio-economic status and others who have less experience are poor. Likewise, flow of information not only created great opportunity for firms in developing countries to conduct trade and bussiness on global scale.

RESEARCH METHOLOGY

Given attention to methodologies that will be used for this topic, the research will incorporate case studies and literature reviews. Case studies are performed to obtain facts related to the topic based on best practice. While literature reviews are necessary to accomplish profound understanding of teh research topic’s framework. They will also serve as sources of substantial data and information. Academic literature sech as books, journals and reports will serve as research materials.These materials will mainly focus Information and Communication Technology (ICT),digital divide, and APT as well as Indonesia’s position in the information society.

DISCUSSION

Bridging the Digital Divide: Study Case of  Association of Progressive Communications (APC)

APC is an international non-government organization and a network which 50 members are widespread in five continent around the globe, the majority is based in developing countries. Currently, APC works on two broad levels of digital bridging effort: practice and policies. In Order to support its vision and mission,APC members designated six strategic priorities for the network untul 2012:

1.      Advocate for affordable internet access for all

2.      Secure and defend internet rights

3.      Use emerging technologies for social change

4.      Make technology work to sustain the environment

5.      Build the information-commons

6.      Improve governance,especially internet governance.

(Association for Progresive Communications,2011a,p.16)

Indonesia and the Digital Divide: A Smaller of Bigger Picture

Indonesia, in this point, has also experiencing the same condition. As reflected by Nugroho (2010,p.30) that the century, for some people, is “communication heaven”. In Fact, it is categorized as one of developing countries that alleviating its position from the “Information have-nots” to those in “the information haves” due to the country’s progessive ICT development. Internet usage in Indonesia started to increase as platforms to access the net were provided more widely. The growing number of Warung Internet/Internet Cafes (Warnet) was one significant factor that had contributed greatly to the ICT adoption among Indonesias.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, disparities always exist in the world. One of those disparities is digital wide which takes information and communication technology into accont. This divide present 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 thought certain barriers still remain.

Widya Michella Nur Syahida

NPM: 1516071051