Final answer:
The digital divide is a significant issue that describes the gap in access to technology and internet services among different populations, particularly affected by geography and socioeconomic status. Infrastructure upgrades tend to favor affluent areas, leaving behind rural and low-income urban communities. This gap is further compounded by disparities in device use and internet access across racial and class lines.
Step-by-step explanation:
One significant issue in contemporary society is the digital divide, which refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communication technology, and those that don't or have only limited access. The presence of digital deserts, areas where high-speed internet is not available, contributes to this divide. According to the Federal Communications Commission, in 2017, around 21.3 million Americans did not have access to high-speed internet, with 2.2 million households having no internet at all.
The divide is more pronounced in rural and low-income urban communities; with infrastructure upgrades often being made in affluent areas, leaving out large portions of the country. This divide extends to the devices used to access the internet. Data from the Pew Research Center highlights a racial component to the divide, with Black and Hispanic individuals being more likely to rely on smartphones for internet access, which complicates tasks like job applications or updating a résumé as opposed to having a larger screen or computer services at home.
The necessity of robust and reliable broadband service is recognized, with arguments pushing for regulatory policies that promote technological neutrality and ensure broadband service providers are incentivized to develop and offer wide-reaching services. Despite advances in technology and the increasing significance of mobile broadband, disparities in technology use and internet access remain defined by race, class, and age in the United States.
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