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Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become an essential part of modern societies. The use of these technologies has become indispensable in many aspects of modern life, from communication and education to healthcare and business. ICTs have dramatically transformed economies and societies around the world. As ICTs, especially the internet, have become increasingly widespread in the recent decades, a gap has also begun to emerge between users and non-users. This worldwide phenomenon is named as the digital divide.
The digital divide has economic, educational, sociocultural, and political background (Ragnedda, 2019). Studies about this important issue show that older people, people with low education, people with low occupations or being unemployed, often females, racial/ethnical minorities and people live in rural areas and developing countries have less likely to access and use ICTs and therefore at the “wrong side” of the digital divide (van Dijk, 2020). The digital divide has important consequences as it can deepen existing inequalities within society. Even though ICTs provide new and wide range of opportunities in many areas of our lives, these technologies are also accepted as one of major drivers of economic and social inequalities between different economic and social groups (Moghaddam, 2010). New forms of inequality have arisen along with longstanding forms of inequality as the information society has evolved (Robinson et al., 2015). Therefore, the digital divide has attracted the attention of policy makers and non-governmental organizations as well as researchers in different disciplines. Information and knowledge are accepted as power, and people who do not have access to the internet are increasingly being labeled as “information poor” (Morris, 2007). While developed countries benefit greatly from ICTs, people in developing countries have difficulties in accessing and using these technologies (Acılar, 2011). However, the digital divide is not only concern for developing parts of the world (Acılar, 2011). Even in developed countries, many economically disadvantaged or traditionally underrepresented segments of the population lack access to digital resources and the skills to use them effectively (Robinson et al., 2015).
As information and services have been increasingly started to be delivered online in social, political, cultural, health, and economic domains, the internet has become a vital medium and resource for society and it is expected to be used by all society members (van Deursen & van Dijk, 2014). While digital inclusion has many wide-ranging benefits for individuals, economy, and society, being digitally disengaged has crucial social, educational, health, and economic disadvantages (Olphert & Damodaran, 2013; Siren & Knudsen, 2017; Craig, 2017). ICTs offer new mediums and opportunities of development for everyone, and women, without exception, should receive the same benefits as males from these technological advancements (Bala & Singhal, 2018). Digital technologies have potential to empower women socially and economically, and help women make their voices heard (World Bank, 2016, p. 134).