digital divide

[dij-i-tl di-vahyd]

noun

1. the socioeconomic and other disparities between those people who have opportunities and skills enabling them to benefit from digital resources, especially the internet, and those who do not have these opportunities or skills.

   programs that help to bridge the digital divide between rich and poor countries.

digital divide

noun

1. informal,  the gap between those people who have internet access and those who do not

digital divide

1. A term that describes the division of the world into two camps, those who have access to the Internet and other advanced information technologies and those who don't. The term highlights the issue that those who do not have access to such technology are potentially destined to futures where they will be at an economic disadvantage.

In domestic political terms in the United States, the divide is between educated, well-off members of society and those who are less well-off.

In geopolitical terms, the divide is between the developed and the developing nations, or, roughly speaking, between the North and the South.

Word History and Origins

Origin of digital divide¹

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

But the digital divide separating the prosperous from the low-income was so vast that these efforts fell short.

From Los Angeles Times

Only 17 states were labeled “adequate” for providing technology that shrinks the digital divide and supports the quality of education.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2020, the city embraced SmartLA 2028, a plan to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and gas-powered vehicles and build “a data-driven connected city, which addresses the digital divide and brings fresh ideas, including tele-health, clean tech and a switch to mass transit.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Is there another way for the city itself to tackle the digital divide with training or an assistance program?”

From Los Angeles Times

CSU leaders said they were also growing concerned by a new “digital divide” among its campuses, with some racing forward to offer AI tools and training to students and others without the resources to do so.

From Los Angeles Times