Determinants of Internet skills, uses and outcomes. A systematic review of the second- and third-level digital divide. Issue 8 (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scheerder, Anique; van Deursen, Alexander; van Dijk, Jan
• Is Part Of: Telematics and informatics. Volume 34:Issue 8(2017)
• Page Start: 1607
• Page End: 1624
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Digital divide -- Internet skills -- Internet use -- Internet outcomes -- Systematic literature review; Telecommunication -- Periodicals; Computer networks -- Periodicals; Télécommunications -- Périodiques; Réseaux d'ordinateurs -- Périodiques; 384
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tele.2017.07.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0736-5853

Abstract

Highlights: This article presents a literature review on determinants of the digital divide. Consistent digital divide terminology is missing within the literature. The majority of determinants identified focuses on the second-level digital divide. Sociodemographic and socioeconomic determinants are studied the most. More attention should be devoted to the outcomes of Internet use. Abstract: Recently, several digital divide scholars suggested that a shift is needed from a focus on binary Internet access (first-level digital divide) and Internet skills and use (second-level digital divide) to a third-level digital divide in which the tangible outcomes of Internet use are highlighted. A plethora of studies have been conducted to identify determinants of digital divides. Unfortunately, there is a lack of consistency in the terminology used. Moreover, terms are often not theoretically grounded. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review of digital divide determinants. The results show that the third-level digital divide was underexposed. The primary focus is on Internet use. More importantly, the identified determinants show that digital divide research is largely limited to sociodemographic and socioeconomic determinants.