C48. Rice, R. E. & Haythornthwaite, C.
(2005). New media access, use and equity. In L.A. Lievrouw & S.
Livingstone (Eds.), Handbook of new
media: Social shaping and social
consequences of ICTs (Updated student edition) (pp. 92-113).
London:
Sage.
After a brief interlude when it looked like Internet growth, at
least in the US, was showing signs of leveling off, more recent numbers
show access has again risen sharply. Between December 2000 to April
2002, figures for the percent of the US population with access to the
Internet remained at approximately 59 percent (Nua.com, 2001). Yet,
recent figures show a rapid rise, from 66 percent in 2003 to 75 percent
in 2004, representing over 200 million people in the US (Nielsen
NetRatings, 2004). Worldwide, the top 10 countries (Sweden, Hong Kong,
US, Iceland, Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark and
South Korea) show similar Internet access statistics, with 62 to 74
percent of each country’s population having access (Internet World
Stats, 2004). Numbers are dramatically different when examined by
region, with only 1.4 percent of Africa and 7 percent of Asia and the
Middle East with access (Internet World Stats, 2005) but so are growth
rates 187% for Africa, 126% for Asia, and 228% for the Middle East (for
other figures around the world, see ClickZ Stats, 2005). In all it is
hard to dispute the increasing presence and penetration of the Internet
around the globe. Along with this increased access come many social
changes. This rapid adoption brings with it new ways to seek and
distribute information, communicate with others, foster communities,
and produce, share and sell goods, culture products and services
naturally raises a vast range of enduring as well as new social and
policy issues. This chapter reviews relevant research on three primary
issues -- (1) access, (2) civic, politi¬cal and community
involvement, and (3) social interaction and forms of expression -- by
grouping arguments and results into pessimistic and optimistic
perspectives. Although the phenomena are occurring worldwide, this
review addresses largely US outcomes.
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