Differential trends in households’ connection to the Internet: An actor-centered explanation

Author:

Lang Volker1,Hillmert Steffen2

Affiliation:

1. Bielefeld University, Germany

2. University of Tübingen, Germany

Abstract

In this article, an actor-centered model of households’ decision to obtain an Internet connection is set up to explain the diffusion of Internet technology. First, we derive a mechanism based on the demand and supply of online information, services, and goods which drives this diffusion. Afterwards, we link this mechanism to social inequalities with regard to digital technologies and deduce hypotheses regarding changes in the relevance of different socio-structural factors for adopting an Internet connection over the diffusion process. In our analyses, we address the following research questions: Which socio-structural differentiations persist over the diffusion process and why? How much of the inequality in the diffusion of Internet connections by socio-economic status can be explained by differences in information technology competencies and resource restrictions? We test our model with a discrete time transition rate analysis and Socio-Economic Panel data. Overall, our model rationalizes about 75% of the gross inequality by socio-economic status between households’ choices to connect to the Internet. Regarding the persistence of social inequalities in adopting digital technologies, our study highlights the importance of structural opportunities to develop strategic information technology competencies during socialization. With respect to related indicators, our analyses show an about 13-fold increase in the influence of birth cohort differences on the adoption of Internet connections over the diffusion process. As a consequence, a central implication of our study is that we expect birth cohort differences in the diffusion of digital technologies not only to persist, but to increase.

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Social Sciences (miscellaneous),Sociology and Political Science

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3