From the Digital Divide to the Democratic Divide: Internet Skills, Political Interest, and the Second-Level Digital Divide in Political Internet Use

TLDR

Digital divide research now focuses on the second-level divide, which concerns differences in Internet usage, including the democratic divide between those who actively use the Web for politics and those who do not. The article argues that the second-level digital divide is driven by motivations and Internet skills, and illustrates this with the democratic divide. Survey analysis reveals a democratic divide, with political Internet users possessing higher Internet skills and political interest.

Abstract

Digital divide research is now focused on the so-called second-level divide, which concerns Internet "usage" divides. This article suggests that while the first-level divide was associated with sociodemographic factors, the second-level divide is associated with factors such as motivations and Internet skills. It then illustrates an example of the second-level digital divide—the democratic divide. The democratic divide concerns the differences between those who actively use the Web for politics and those who do not. Analysis of General Social Survey data shows there is a democratic divide where political Internet users are individuals with high Internet skills and political interest.