The term digital divide refers to a situation in which regions and countries are divided into the people who do not have access or the opportunity to access modern information technology and those individuals who have access to modern information technology (Information Gatekeepers, Inc, 2007). The digital divide exists between developed regions (cities) and under-developed parts (rural areas). Digital divide exists in modern technology regarding the use of cell phones, cable TV, and internet among other modern electronic media (Lane, 2009).
The modern technology emerged a few decades ago and began growing rapidly. In the year 1999, a research was conducted and the result findings revealed that only 86 per cent of the Internet connection had reached 20 largest cities in the world (Lane, 2009). Today, the Internet has gone around the world making the Earth become a global village. Despite of increased globalization, digital divide still exists in the society today. Generally, digital divide can be seen between the educated and uneducated, and between the rich and poor. In global terms, digital divide can occur between the under-developed and developed countries (Lane, 2009).
By making a comparison of digital divide in Britain and the rest of the world, we will be able to have a vivid picture of its level in the modern society. In Britain, statistics released in year 2009 by National Statistics showed that 30 percent of homes across Britain did not have access to internet (Lane, 2009). According to the same report, about 10 million people of Britain population today remain out of Internet access (Lane, 2009). Out of this population, four million people are more vulnerable due to lack of economical power (Lane, 2009). On the other hand, educated people with minimal qualification of degree are said to have Internet access while only 5 percent of educated people lack such access. Half the number of non-educated or people with no formal qualification have access to Internet and modern technologies (Lane, 2009). There is also a high level of geographical digital divide as people from different areas have unequal access to the Internet. In London, for instance, 80 per cent of the dwellers have full access to Internet while 60 per cent of people from the North East have access to the Internet (Lane, 2009).
Digital divide also exists in Africa where most people do not have access to modern technologies. However, this trend is changing rapidly as most countries in Africa begin embracing technology. Major cities like Nairobi, Lagos, Cape Town, and Cairo among others have great number of dwellers accessing Internet (Information Gatekeepers, Inc, 2007). In Kenya, for example, a big number of graduates, the employed and college students have access to modern technology. In Africa, it is estimated that 12.5 per cent of African access Internet in the urban areas while 5 per cent access modern technology in the rural areas (Information Gatekeepers, Inc, 2007).
On the other hand, digital divide also exists in the US. According to a report released by New York Times, the US has become a state where only the well-off people have access to Internet and other modern technologies (Bryford, 2011). However, the US digital divide exists mostly in terms of technological quality. It is said that 200 million Americans have access to high-speed Internet while others only use mobile one, which is relatively slow (Bryford, 2011). Most people adapt high-speed internet and about 25 per cent lose the Internet access as landline infrastructure is neglected (Bryford, 2011).