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The Internet and Social Change: Sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Inequality
Internet users are typically college educated, wealthy, white, under the age of 55, male, and urban dwellers. Less affluent, and less well-educated individuals are more likely to give up use after initial exposure. Educational attainment seems to be the primary distinguishing characteristic accounting for twice the influence of wealth in analyzing Internet use. Non-users typically suggest that unfamiliarity with computers, not wanting their children to have Internet access, lack time or interest, and/or expense are the primary reasons for not using.(1) Some differences are declining--especially the gap between males and females, but other significant differences remain. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of children lived in a house-hold with a computer in 2000--up from 55% in 1998, and 30% of children had Internet access (up from 19% in 1998). However, 77% of White, non-Hispanic and 72% of Asians and Pacific Islanders children had computer access whereas only 43% of Black children and 37% of Hispanic children did.(2)
It is estimated that the number of world-wide Internet users grew from 16 million in 1995 to almost 360 million by 2000. However, this represents just 5% of the world's population, and the vast majority of users are located in developed societies (over 100 million in the USA alone). Access to Internet services is very unevenly distributed with 97% of Internet host computers located in developed countries. US producers dominate the Web. Most of the most frequented web sites are in the USA (Yahoo, E-Bay) and English has become the Internet's dominant language.(1) Political Action: The Internet will lead to:
The general conclusions that can be drawn from the research to date indicate: First, the Internet has no intrinsic effect on social interaction and civic participation. Second, Internet use tends to intensify already existing inclinations toward sociability or community involvement, rather than creating them. Third, virtual communities exist in large number, but we know relatively little about their performance.(1) Sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. 1. Social Implications of the Internet, Paul DiMaggio, Eszter Hargittai, W. Russell Neuman, and John P. Robinson, Annual Review of Sociology 2001. 27:307-336. 2. Home Computers and Internet Use in the United States: August 2000, Eric Newburger, U.S. Census Bureau, September 2001. (http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/p23-207.pdf)
URL: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/meanderings/
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