Abstract
The Digital Divide is an important issue with serious consequences, individuals affected, society as well as threatens economy and productivity growth of a country. It was believed no longer exists in this 21st century era, amongst adolescents due to internet and smart devices penetration increment in Malaysia. Thus, survey conducted among 292 national secondary students from Hulu Langat district, chosen by using proportional random sampling to seek the possibility of digital divide existence by mean of digital skills between genders. There is no divide exist in digital devices ownership especially smartphones and home internet access. However, there was gender divide in digital skills in all dimensions except for information navigation skills even when gender is controlled. Male students had higher digital skills compared to female, whereby female only higher in information navigation skills. There was gender divide exist as well among urban secondary students, whereby urban male had highly digital skilled in computer operational, internet operational, social and creative skills, whilst urban female digitally skilled in information navigation. However, rural female suffered more in digital divide, whereby they were behind in digital skills level compared to rural male in the three dimensions. These findings indicate more efforts should be taken by the policy makers and authorities in enhancing students’ digital skills as well as bridging the digital divide in accommodating them well into today’s informative world.
Highlights
In this era of 21st century, the rapidness of technology is well projected and has been world-shaking criterion for the growth and development for all countries in today’s informative world
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) or Internet services have become a need in everyday life and considered as tool for economy and social improvement of a country
Technological development has widened the opportunity of internet access and usage, whereby the cost of having any technological devices with build-in internet access has come down to the International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development affordable point, where most Malaysian would have the access (DeWitt & Siraj, 2010; Wong, Khong, & Chu, 2012)
Summary
In this era of 21st century, the rapidness of technology is well projected and has been world-shaking criterion for the growth and development for all countries in today’s informative world. It can be seen clearly that most young generation were likely having access the digital devices with internet technology installed such as smart phones, laptops as well as handy technologies, such as iPads, iPods or tablets (Plowman, Stevenson, Stephen, & McPake, 2012). These wide accesses has made the young generations more technology-ready, sensitive to new technological trends, and adopt better to new technology (Kate, 2015; Kopaiboon, Reungtrakul, & Wongwanich, 2014). Majority of 33.9% (99) students had more than three years of using internet followed by 27.7% (81) students had more than six years online experiences, and 18.2% (53) students had more than nine years whereby female (22) are highly experienced than male (8) students for both areas
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
