Analyzing Internet Access: A Contemporary Issue of Social Equity in IT

This essay explores the contemporary issue of internet access as a matter of social equity within the field of Information Technology. It delves into the concept of the digital divide, highlighting the disparity between those with and without reliable internet access, and its connection to digital inequality. Drawing on various studies, the essay examines how limited internet access can exacerbate knowledge gaps and create disparities in opportunities. It emphasizes that the digital divide is not a binary issue but exists across a spectrum, akin to literacy levels. The essay also touches upon the role of internet access in education, emphasizing that technology alone cannot solve educational challenges but must be integrated into comprehensive national policies to maximize its impact on student outcomes, job opportunities, and national development. The essay concludes by asserting the internet's central role in modern society and the importance of addressing the digital divide to promote social equality.

Running head: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN IT
Contemporary Issues in IT
Name of Student-
Name of University-
Author’s Note-

1CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN IT
Why can access and ability to use the internet be considered an issue of social
equity?
Internet is considered as a digital way of finding out different meanings. Generally,
Internet is considered as a division in between two parties having reasonable access to Internet as
well as to those who are not having access to the Internet (Büchi, Just and Latzer 2016). This is
known as digital divide. The digital divide is particularly related with digital inequality assuming
the hypothesis of knowledge gap. (Welch et al. 2016) defines increasing knowledge gap in
between the individuals who may have access to the internet or are able to use the information to
those who cannot use the information on Internet. Digital divide can exist at any time where
there is gap in the opportunities that are experienced by those people who have low internet
access to the Internet technology.
On the other hand Kumar et al. (2016) describe digital divide similar to literacy. This is
not considered as a binary issue. There are many other degrees involved in computer access
similar to different degrees in literacy. Digital divide states inequalities for accessing the
computer as well as Internet in between different sub populations.
For example, the Aguablanca telecenter mainly provides some specific insights which are
relevant to Aguablanca telecenter. This telecenter provides contribution to understand the impact
on Internet in broader way, which are accessed through the telecenter related to social equity.
Thorpe et al. (2015) explains that rigor of analysis that is employed in the case study mainly
enforces the complexity which makes all the cases amenable to reductionist technique. Analytic
explanation of research that are capable for accounting all data are generated within the case.

2CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN IT
There is use of different methods for triangulating the research findings in the case that will help
in ensuring the rigorous as well as the explanation of the result as a valid one.
The Internet is not the answer to all the challenges that are posed by the education. There
are many national policies that can draw experience in education as well as in technology in
different countries with national context. The national policies are essential if there is
contribution of Internet to education is needed to be maximized. The main success of Internet in
the world of education is mainly measured by the outcomes of education which includes
improvement on the attainments of the students, the job opportunities, as well as contribution of
the national developments (Welch et al. 2016). The main goal for the Internet society is ensuring
the access of the policies that are in place allowing the opportunities in Internet to flourish. The
internet also contributes in achieving all the above stated objectives. The technology is mainly
embedded in a comprehensive way of education.
So concluding this part, the internet has become a central way of living in the society. It
is very important for some of the groups. The digital divide has much emphasis on certain
perspectives which recognizes the power, social satisfaction, as well as racism which support the
social equality.

3CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN IT
References
Büchi, M., Just, N. and Latzer, M., 2016. Modeling the second-level digital divide: A five-
country study of social differences in Internet use. New Media & Society, 18(11), pp.2703-2722.
Kumar, A., Bezawada, R., Rishika, R., Janakiraman, R. and Kannan, P.K., 2016. From social to
sale: The effects of firm-generated content in social media on customer behavior. Journal of
Marketing, 80(1), pp.7-25.
Thorpe, K., Hansen, J., Danby, S., Zaki, F.M., Grant, S., Houen, S., Davidson, C. and Given,
L.M., 2015. Digital access to knowledge in the preschool classroom: Reports from
Australia. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 32, pp.174-182.
Welch, V., Petkovic, J., Pardo, J.P., Rader, T. and Tugwell, P., 2016. Interactive social media
interventions to promote health equity: an overview of reviews. Health promotion and chronic
disease prevention in Canada: research, policy and practice, 36(4), p.63.