Research on the links between the diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and social and economic development has been undertaken for decades. Evidence of links between social and digital engagement, particularly with respect to the Internet, has been the focus of many studies conducted by academic as well as government institutions. These studies have shown consistently that individuals who have access to ICTs, from the telephone to the Internet, tend to have more schooling, higher incomes, and higher status occupations than do those who do not have access.
However, despite the evidence, there remains significant debate around the existence, nature and causality of these links. There are many who are digitally disengaged but socially advantaged through choice – so are the links between digital and social disengagement really significant? Is digital engagement primarily driven by one’s socioeconomic status? Can ICTs help disadvantaged individuals improve their position in society? Or conversely, does exclusion from the information society hinder social mobility? This report tackles these issues and develops new models of digital and social exclusion.
