Understanding the Internet Digital Divide: An Exploratory Multi-Nation Individual-Level Analysis

As evidenced in the digital divide literature, various and diverse sets of indicators and analytical techniques have been applied that have contributed to different purposes. Some investigations try to measure the gap of digital divide, while others have attempted to explain its determinants. However, certain facets are yet to be addressed in the literature. This study uses an individual-level multi-nation approach to study both developed and developing nations with the aim of identifying factors of digital divide that separate the digitally deprived and the intense users of internet. This unique research examines the two extreme sides of the inequality—citizens with no access to the internet and frequent users of the internet. We empirically test conventional (e.g., age, education, and income) and novel (e.g., income perception, media channels, and religion) factors. We find some interesting significant results that are later outlined in the study