Overcoming the digital divide: A conceptual framework

The digital divide is one of the biggest challenges of our time. There are significant differences in the digital maturity of individuals, organizations/companies and regions/countries, which increase the inequalities between them and result in a persistent and growing digital divide. The digital divide can be attributed to a number of factors, and its scientific definition is constantly evolving. It was first attributed more to technological factors, such as internet speed. Today, economic and social factors, such as the ability to use technology, are increasingly important, both at the individual, organizational and governmental levels. The causes and opportunities of digital divide are explored through this theoretical paper. Different indicator systems have been developed over the last decades to measure digital divide, and their logic can be used to identify the factors of digital divide and to propose a way to bridge the gap. By creating a conceptual framework, the causes of the digital divide can be grouped into three dimensions; (1) structural, (2) cognitive and (3) motivational. Along these three dimensions, proposals can also be made to overcome the digital divide at individual, organizational/company and regional/country levels.