Although technology has the ability to bring people together, it has a tendency to do the opposite. Due to naturally occurring social stratification, there is a digital divide, separating those in the digital world and those who are not. Technology access and digital literacy both play a part in this divide. The separation is caused by things like geographic location, socioeconomic status, age, and more. People in third world countries and areas of lower income often don’t have the resources to stay connected online or to even understand how the tech we use on a daily basis works. According to Superconnected, in turn, “when the rate of internet penetration is low, the abilities of these citizens and their countries to benefit in a global economy is reduced” (Chayko, p.97). It becomes a catch-22; internet access and technology development are imperative to economic growth. Without these things, it is difficult to improve the quality of life. Things like education, employment, and access to healthcare are all affected.
Digital Culture 