Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2011

DOI

10.3390/fi3030185

Publication Title

Future Internet

Volume

3

Issue

3

Pages

185-203

Abstract

This study assesses differences within the African American population with respect to internet activity. Using survey data, we find wide variations within the population. While some segments of African Americans are indeed less likely to perform certain activities on the internet, we note that certain segments of the African American population are reporting more internet activity than other racial groups. These ‘haves’ score high not just in comparison to their African American peers, but to the US American population as a whole. We suggest a move away from the digital divide/digital inequality models and a move towards thinking of greater or lesser Information and Communication Technology (ICT) usage as conditioned by the instrumental needs of population groups. We term this a digital practice model.

Comments

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License

ORCID

0000-0001-6295-6620 (Graham)

Original Publication Citation

Graham, R., & Smith, D.T. (2011) Internet as digital practice: Examining differences in African American internet usage. Future Internet, 3(3), 185-203 https://doi.org/10.3390/fi3030185

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