The following factors have reduced individual access to digital technologies and the Internet.
Socio-economic factors
Low Income: Typically the data indicates that individuals from poor families, particularly those living in high poverty areas are less likely to have access to a computer or the Internet (Kalyanpur and Kiramni 2005). According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2006) Internet use among the Australian population is directly related to household income. The ABS found that persons living in households with an income of $2000 or more per week are three times more likely to have Internet broadband access than individuals who earn less that $600 per week. Essentially low income households do not have Internet access is due to the cost of the connection.
Socio-economic factors
Low Income: Typically the data indicates that individuals from poor families, particularly those living in high poverty areas are less likely to have access to a computer or the Internet (Kalyanpur and Kiramni 2005). According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2006) Internet use among the Australian population is directly related to household income. The ABS found that persons living in households with an income of $2000 or more per week are three times more likely to have Internet broadband access than individuals who earn less that $600 per week. Essentially low income households do not have Internet access is due to the cost of the connection.
Internet Access by Weekly Household Income (ABS 2006)
Educational Attainment: From the graph below it is clear that people who completed Year 12 or equivalent within Australian had a higher level of household Internet access than those individuals who left school before Year 12. For example, the graph indicates that those individuals who completed Year 12 or equivalent had 56.6% broadband Internet access compared to those who left school in Year 8 or below who only had 20.2% broadband Internet access (ABS 2006).
Internet Access by Highest Year of School Completed (ABS 2006)
Geographical factors
Regional disparities in Internet use also persist between metropolitan and rural areas. The data depicts a trend that has persisted over the last decade, where Metropolitan areas have higher rates of access to the Internet, than rural areas. This trend is thus highlighted by the ABS (2006) who reveal that 43.5% of individuals living in major cities have broadband Internet access, while only 23.5% of individuals living in very remote areas have broadband Internet access. The ABS (2008) argues that lower rates of access in remote areas are directly linked to poor infrastructure and socio-economic factors such as low income and low levels of educational attainment.
Internet Access by Remoteness (ABS 2006)
Cultural factors
Indigenous population: From the graph below it is clear that Aboriginal and/or Torres Straight Islander Australians have significantly less access to Internet broadband within Australia in comparison to non-indigenous Australians. The ABS (2006) indicate that 21.9% of Aboriginal and/or Torres Straight Islander Australians have access to Internet broadband in comparison to non-indigenous Australians who have 46.5% access to Internet broadband. Essentially limited access to Internet broadband within the Aboriginal and/or Torres Straight Islander Australian community is linked to limited income, poor educational attainment and remote geographical location (ABS 2008).
Internet Access by Indigenous Status (ABS 2006)
For further information on the factors that have lead to the Australian digital divide see:
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006, Patterns of Internet access in Australia
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