People who regularly use the Internet are exposed to a wide variety of topics, news and resources that are often taken for granted. People who cannot afford a computer or Internet access, as well as those who do not know why this is valuable, are at risk of being left behind in the information age. This disparity is the driving force behind underdeveloped countries, underperforming students, and an underprepared workforce. The digital divide must be bridged to enable the world to move forward on an equal footing. In the textbook Introduction to Digital Literacy, author Mark Bowles says: “It is vital to ensure that the world is not split in two. -class society of “information haves” and “information have-nots”. Importantly, efforts to help people become digitally literate will ensure that this does not happen” (Bowles, 2013). Bowles believes that digital literacy is essential to bridging the digital divide. Research presented in the text also indicates that people living in the United States without a high school diploma, households earning less than $30,000 per year, people with disabilities, and older adults are all less likely to have Internet access. the house. (Bowles, 2013). The divide mentioned in the case of the United States highlights that many jobs in developed countries require computer skills. Computers quickly became, in historical terms, an essential part of daily life. “In 1990, 22% of all households in the United States owned a personal computer. This percentage increased to 63% in 2001, and by 2004, almost 75% of all Americans had access to the Internet at home” (Bowles, 2013). Although this figure is high, it indicates that 25% of Americans do not have......middle of paper...necessary to use a computer and take the necessary steps to gain access to it. Simply giving everyone in the world a computer and the Internet will not bridge the gap between those who simply have no interest. References Bowles, M. (2013). Introduction to digital culture. Bridgepoint Education. Retrieved from http://content.ashford.edu/books/AUINF103.13.1/File, T. (May 2013). Computer and Internet use in the United States. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-569.pdfLensfeld, J. (2011). An econometric analysis of the sociodemographic topology of the digital divide in Europe. Information Society, 27(3), 141-157. doi:10.1080/01972243.2011.566745Paravil, G. (2005). The digital divide and increasing returns: the contradictions of information capitalism. Information Society, 21(1), 41-51. do I: 10.1080/01972240590895900