It has been reported that there is still a broadband digital divide between whites and minorities in the United States, but there are now more minorities using cell phone internet than whites.
According to a recent report there has been a new digital divide in the USA when it comes to broadband. Whilst whites still have the monopoly when it comes to having broadband access in the home. However, Latinos and black people are accessing the Internet via their cell phones more than whites.
However, officials are concerned that whilst black and Latino people have greater access now thanks to internet access on cell phones they are still restricted in terms of what they can do online because of the limitations on cell phone internet activities compared to proper home broadband and internet access.
Craig Watkins, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said: “I don’t know if it’s the right time to celebrate. There are challenges still there. We are much more engaged, but now the questions turn to the quality of that engagement, what are people doing with that access.” Another official said: “Research has shown that people with an actual connection at home, the ability to go online on a computer at home, are more engaged in a lot of different things that people who rely on access from work, a friend’s house, or a phone.”
Many of the black and Latino people that now have internet access via their cell phones tend to use it most for contacting other people via emails and also for social networking.
Do you believe that minorities are still disadvantaged when it comes to broadband despite cell phone internet access? Let us know with your comments
Source – USA Today