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The Digital Divide within and between Turkey and the U.S.: The Promises of Social Media in dealing with the Solutions to Bridge the Divide
Abstract by Dr. Defne Bilir On Session 200  (Sociology of Contemporary Turkey)

On Saturday, November 19 at 2:00 pm

2016 Annual Meeting

Abstract
This paper compares the digital divide within and between Turkey and the U.S. by employing the cross-country analysis. The primary interest in this study is to address the significant steps for policy makers to bridge the internal gaps. The digital divide is defined as the “gap between individuals, households, businesses and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels with regard both to their opportunities to access [Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)] and to their use of the Internet for a wide variety of activities” (OECD, 2001). By December of 2015, 3.2 billion people were globally using the Internet, of which 2 billion were residing in developing countries. However, 4 billion people from developing countries (i.e., 2/3 of the population residing in developing countries) remain offline (Data, I.C.T., 1). As it occurred in other developed countries, students-per-computer ratios remained 10:1 in the U.S. (Pedro, et al., iv), where the Department of Education and related governmental organizations have invested in ICTs in their implementations of policy decisions. This is to ensure widespread access to the Internet and to remove barriers to computer literacy especially for young generations (Mapping, 9). Similar efforts are also evident in Turkey—a developing country, where the government considers its young generation as “a driving force” for economic progress and technological transformation (Pouezevara, et al., 5). In this quantitative study, we performed a cross-country analysis using the two public data from: (1) the Turkish Statistical Institute, and (2) the American Community Survey. By employing cross-country analysis, we look at the (global) digital divide to answer whether policy parameters of Turkey and the U.S. are separate and distinct in their implementations, and if so, to what extent. The main purpose of this study is to address the significant steps to bridge the internal gaps, which in turn help the country eliminate power inequality, and create well-connected and collaborative students, educators, parents and communities that is necessary for social transformation in a civic society of the 21st century. Works Cited Data, I. C. T. "Statistics Division, Telecommunication Development Bureau, International Telecommunication Union." The World in 2013, ICT Facts and Figures. (2015). “Mapping the Digital Divide.” Council of Economic Advisers Issue Brief (2015): 1-10. Web. OECD. “Understanding the digital divide.” (2001). Pouezevara, Sarah, et al. "Turkey's FATIH project: A plan to conquer the digital divide or a technological leap of faith." Turkey: RTI International & Education Reform Initiative (ERI) (2003).
Discipline
Education
Geographic Area
Turkey
Sub Area
Information Technology/Computing