Assessing trends of digital divide within digital services in New York city

With the ascension of the new digital economy, conventional means of access have found themselves completely reshaped from the ground up and the paradigm of service provision has shifted towards the online space. Daily services have now found themselves intrinsically tied to various online apps as the digital economy aims at increasing the coverage of services and providing equitable access to all users [5]. While the transition of services to the digital realm has certainly acted as a liberating vessel for many individuals, it has not come without its pitfalls. Chief among these is the concept of the digital divide. As a result of this, many individuals who are technically averse in an online sensibility have found themselves at odds with a concept that is in theory marketed as open and inclusive. With an in-depth empirical study of New York City (NYC), this research explains the conditions (and factors) within the digital economy that is causing a digital divide in New York. The focus of this research is specifically on digital media and its subsequent provision of services & accessibility. Among the deficiencies concerning the digital divide is its ambiguous nature. Be it in definition, the multifaceted nature of it, and the accompanying research that is associated with it. Findings of this research highlighted key areas where policy action is urgently needed. It may help policymakers in bringing right regulatory mechanisms in place and prevent the digital divide becoming a potential barrier to the advancements in digitally provided services.

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