We have often talked about the digital divide as being those who have access to technology versus those who don’t, but lately a new concept is beginning to emerge involving access and digital literacy. While much of the Internet is free, the truth is that it takes time, energy, instruction, and prolonged access to develop the skills and habits to successfully navigate and derive value from today’s media. Figuring out what is a trusted source versus just someone spouting off about an issue, understanding a meme, cross checking articles or sources against each other, and even posting a comment to disagree with something are skills that require some time and access to master.
Something we need to recognize is that not everyone has extensive Internet time every day. In fact, many people have jobs that forbid them from even peeking at what’s online during the day, with bosses who will write them up if caught checking their phone. These people–we often refer to them (derisively) as “average Americans”–are removed from the lightning-fast online media cycle for hours at a time and, often, for the entire day. It means then that they end up getting their news from Facebook or from the stories that are making the rounds on the Internet – or in other words, a very filtered reality. This also means that the new digital divide is between those who have the time and access to learn how to navigate and filter the misinformation and egomania that dominates the social networks and the news platforms and those that don’t. This is scary, since we are a country ruled by public opinion and it’s the media that frames those opinions.
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