From Divides to Capitals: An Exploration of Digital Divides as Expressions of Social and Cultural Capital

Abstract

Purpose

As the deployment of ICT and the Internet especially increases all around the world, the urgency of providing access to the “have-nots” appears at least diminished, with new issues and urgencies at the forefront. However, studies show that even when the best conditions for access are established, not everyone uses their digital devices for the same purposes, even when sharing the same goals, or when participating in the same experiences.

Methodology/approach

To explore potential explanations of these phenomena, this study examines survey data from students from a private university in Peru regarding their backgrounds and expertise with ICT. We use the twin concepts of social and cultural capital to establish a connection between their larger lifeworld experiences and their use of digital media. For this purpose, we analyze the data using polychoric correlations to explore patterns resulting from self-perception of access and skills, as well as processes related to social capital such as differentiated media use.

Findings

Findings indicate that there are differentiated processes of capital accrual using ICTs, but, at the same time, the productive and leisure dimensions of ICT use must be considered.

Citation

Villanueva-Mansilla, E., Nakano, T. and Evaristo, I. (2015), "From Divides to Capitals: An Exploration of Digital Divides as Expressions of Social and Cultural Capital", Communication and Information Technologies Annual (Studies in Media and Communications, Vol. 10), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 89-117. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2050-206020150000010004