Impact on Society and Business

As you might imagine, the digital divide has had a significant impact on society, in our own country and internationally. The main concern when talking about the digital divide is exclusion; socially and economically. Each year, being digitally connected becomes more and more critical to economic, educational, and social advancement. Those without the appropriate tools (in terms of computers and Internet connectivity) will become increasingly disadvantaged. In the US especially, the Internet is becoming more of a necessity than a luxury. The use of social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter are also becoming much more widespread in our society, as well as in developing nations. This allows for easy and fast communication between people all over the world. 

    As the 21st century continues, it becomes increasingly difficult to imagine how any business can be conducted without the Internet. The Internet has transformed many areas of the business arena, and especially communication. By drastically reducing the time required to transmit information over both long and short distances, the Internet has made itself indispensable for commercial endeavors. Technology has benefited business the US in that 61% of businesses who use the Internet saved $155.2 billion as a result of ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies). That is an astounding amount of money, and goes to show the necessity of internet access in businesses.

    In addition to everything previously mentioned, Internet searching has become an essential research tool for businesses in nearly every industry. Libraries have been transformed by internet expansion, with much of their collections being converted to electronic records, which are made available through the Internet. In addition to accessing library records online, businesses access breaking news and stock exchange information in real time via the Internet.