Abstract
Combining data from a sample survey, the 2013 Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS), with the 2011 UK census, we employ small area estimation to estimate Internet use in small geographies in Britain. This is the first attempt to estimate Internet use at any small-scale level. Doing so, allows us to understand the local geographies of British Internet use: showing that the area with least use is in the North East, followed by central Wales. The highest Internet use is in London and south eastern England. The most interesting finding is that after controlling for demographic variables, geographic differences become non-significant. The apparent geographic differences appear to be due to differences in demographic characteristics. We conclude by considering the policy implications of this fact.
Highlights
Combining data from a sample survey, the 2013 Oxford Internet Survey, with the 2011 UK Census, we employ small area estimation to estimate Internet use in small geographies in Britain
Our work aims to answer the following research question: Can geographic differences in Internet use be explained by demographic characteristics or are spatial factors, for example, regional differences, needed to account for them?
Since we are interested in Internet use, we use the point where use begins its precipitous drop to define elderly as people over age 51.8 The darker black lines are regions; local authority districts” (LADs) boundaries are in gray
Summary
Combining data from a sample survey, the 2013 Oxford Internet Survey, with the 2011 UK Census, we employ small area estimation to estimate Internet use in small geographies in Britain. Despite the importance of the Internet in everyday life, we know surprisingly little about the geography of Internet use and participation at subnational scales. It is unclear whether citizens of Aberdeen, Manchester, Cardiff, or London are significantly more likely to be able to access our global network. This is important because, as we discuss below, there are widespread geographic differences in online activity. This research stream has no standard name, but it is variously called the second-level digital divide (Hargittai, 2002), emerging digital differentiation (Peter & Valkenburg, 2006), the usage gap (van Dijk, 2006), or the participation gap (H. Jenkins, Purushotma, Clinton, Weigel, & Robison, 2006).
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