THE EVOLUTION OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN TURKEY

Year 2023, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 65 - 83, 30.03.2023

Deniz Ece Dalgıç-tetıkol Emin Köksal Bülent Güloğlu

Abstract

Disparities in information and communication technology (ICT) access and use usually correlate with
demographics and socioeconomic factors. The term “digital divide” refers to demographic, economic,
and social inequalities regarding access to and use of ICTs and has critical policy implications. A
longitudinal analysis of the digital divide is particularly imperative to understand a country’s progress
toward digitalization at a high level. Bearing in mind that the full potential of digital advancements
can be achieved with the widespread adoption of digital technologies, such analysis is of particular
importance for emerging economies like Turkey. In this study, we aim to examine the evolution of
digital gaps in Turkey to analyze the dynamics of the digital divide. By this objective, we examine
the change in broadband penetration in Turkey and the evolution of digital gaps between different
social groups over device access, Internet access, and Internet use between 2008-2020. The results of
this study reveal significant digital inequalities between different social groups in Turkey. Although
Internet access rates point to progress to some extent, the digital divide in terms of actual Internet use
persists between different social groups and regions in Turkey.

Keywords

Digital Divide, Information and Communication Technology, Device Access, Internet Access, Internet Use, Digitalization, Inequality, Turkey