Final answer:
The knowledge gap separates those with information access from those without and is fueled by the digital divide, which refers to the unequal access to technology and the Internet among different social demographics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The widening of the information gap will fuel the knowledge gap, which separates those with access to information from those without. This can be seen in different scenarios such as differential class-based access to technology, leading to a digital divide and consequently, a knowledge gap. This disparity often means that students in well-funded schools receive more exposure to technology than students in poorly funded schools, which affects their proficiency and employability in a technology-based job market. Even with improved access, there remains a significant gap in e-readiness—the ability to sort through, interpret, and process knowledge.
Technology is central to this issue; its rapid advancement leads to continuous inequality due to unequal access. This phenomenon is not limited to a single demographic, as research has demonstrated variations in technology use and Internet access by race, class, and age in the United States.Recent data indicate that minorities such as Latinos and African Americans more frequently use phones over traditional computers to access the Internet, with approximately one in four Black and Hispanic people being smartphone-only Internet users, compared to White individuals. This type of access may limit the ability to perform tasks that offer empowerment instead of entertainment, thus exacerbating the digital divide.