Perspectives of the Russian information society: Digital divide levels

Abstract

The article considers features and trends of the information society development in Russia through the analysis of various aspects of its digitalization including the strategic task of reducing the digital divide. Since the second half of the 20th century the digital divide develops as a new form of social inequality determined by information-communication technologies. Today there is no single approach to the conceptualization of the digital divide (digital inequality). Usually, as a methodological basis for the analysis of digital inequality, researchers use a three-level model of the digital divide: (1) the difference in access to new information technologies (availability or lack of material resources) such as special devices (smartphones, computers, etc.) and also availability of Internet access and its quality (speed, price, etc.); (2) the difference in skills necessary for the effective use of information technologies (ability to get access to content, to produce it, to be an active participant of interaction)’ (3) life chances and opportunities determined by information technologies, which are most difficult to measure due to digitization of certain spheres of society. Digitalization is a priority for the strategic development of the Russian society which includes the use of digital technologies in main spheres of social life (education, healthcare, etc.) and changes in the ways of interaction between society and the state (“e-government”). Based on the data of statistics and research for 2015-2017, the authors consider perspectives to overcome the digital divide under the development of information society in Russia and identify main risks and negative consequences of attempts to accelerate its digitalization.