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Digital Divide in Mexico

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Final Draft

In Mexico, half of the population does not have access to the internet. In 2017, 50.4 % of Mexican households had access to the internet and 45.4 % had a computer. The digital divide in Mexico is related to low income, education, lack of proper infrastructure, and geographical location.

Reasons for the Divide

Wealthier Mexicans are more likely than poorer Mexicans to have access to the internet. Because of certain dominant players monopolizing the telecommunication sector in Mexico, the majority of the Mexican population cannot afford the expensive services of television and internet.

Formal schooling is scarce in the poor regions of Mexico leaving many school-aged children without internet access. Those who have only received an elementary education are four times less likely to access or use the internet. In Mexico, 33% of primary and 48% of secondary schools have access to the internet and report having one computer. The government has addressed the issue by providing technologies that provide the capability to access the internet, but teachers and students are not instructed on how to use them.

Mexico lacks proper fiber optic infrastructure which causes less wireless broadband penetration in the country, which in turn effects the number of internet users in Mexico. Fiber optic infrastructure is found more in urban than rural areas. Urban internet usage is significantly higher than rural internet usage. In big cities such as Mexico City, citizens doubled the national average in terms of computer ownership. In 2000, the southern border states of Mexico had half as many phones per capita as the northern states.

Draft 1: Digital Divide in Mexico

In Mexico, half of the population does not have access to the internet. In 2017, 50.4 % of Mexican households had access to the internet and 45.4 % had a computer. The lack of access to internet in Mexico is related to low income, lack of education, lack of proper infrastructure, geographical location, and gender.

Reasons for the Divide

Wealthier Mexicans are more likely than poorer Mexicans to have access to the internet. Those who have only received an elementary education are four times less likely to have access to the internet as well as use the internet. Mexico lacks proper fiber optic infrastructure which causes less wireless broadband penetration in the country, which in turn effects the number of internet users in Mexico. Because of certain dominant players monopolizing the telecommunication sector in Mexico, the majority of the Mexican population cannot afford the expensive services of television and internet.

Fiber optic infrastructure is found more in urban than rural areas. Urban internet usage is significantly higher than rural internet usage. In big cities such as Mexico City, citizens doubled the national average in terms of computer ownership. In 2000, the southern border states of Mexico had half as many phones per capita as the northern states.

As of 2016, 51.5% of women in Mexico had access to the internet compared to the 48.5% of men. Due to the pay grade gap compared between men and women in Mexico, women have a harder time affording internet access. The schools in Mexico play a role in contributing to the gender gap in the digital divide. Less that 50% of secondary schools report having one computer that has internet access. Though the government has provided technologies that provide the capability to access the internet, many of the teachers and students are not trained on how to use them.

Education: 33% of primary and 48% of secondary schools have access to the internet and report having one computer. The government has tried to fix this issue by providing technologies that provide the capability to access the internet, but teachers and students are not given instructions on how to use them.

New section: Gender divide is confusing. Can we throw this out all together because it is contradictory?... I went and looked at the survey and it said that women have more access but of course this is looking at "access to the internet" not whether or not they have it in their homes. It is just a confusing article... BUT there is some great information on education that I feel like we could use to make 1 paragraph with some of my education information from source 1 and this source 4.

Although 51.5% of women had access to the internet in 2016, women are less likely to have access to the internet because of the pay gap. Women earn 16.7% less than men.

Outline for New Section

I. Reasons for divide

1. Income
2. Education
3. Age
4. Lack of infrastructure/Economic underdevelopment
5. Race/Gender divide

II. Solutions to divide

Source Drafts

From Source 1 and 8 (focuses on reasons for divide)

In Mexico, half of the population does not have access to the internet. (Mirror Poverty, Source 1) In 2017, 50.4 % of Mexican households had access to the internet and 45.4 % had a computer. (In homes statistic, Source 8) The lack of access to the internet is related to low income, lack of education, and lack of proper infrastructure. Wealthier Mexicans are more likely than poorer Mexicans to have access to the internet. (Mirror Poverty, Source 1) Those who have only received an elementary education are four times less likely to have access to the internet as well as use the internet. (Mirror Poverty) Mexico lacks proper fiber optic infrastructure which causes less wireless broadband penetration in the country, which in turn effects the number of internet users in Mexico. (Mirror Poverty, Source 1) Additionally, because of certain dominant players monopolizing the telecommunication sector in Mexico, the majority of the Mexican population cannot afford the expensive services of television and internet. (Mirror Poverty, Source 1)

From Source 3, 9-10

Internet growth in Mexico has seen a steady growth over previous years. 26.3% of Mexicans had used the internet in 2009, growing to 63.9% in 2017 (statista 1). This growth is projected to continue increasing to a projected 91.6 million internet users in 2021 (statista 2). For many, this growth may be attributed to smartphone growth. Smartphones are the number form of internet access for Mexicans and mobile internet user comprise of half of the population (statista 2).

Geographic internet divide in Mexico is evident. In 2000, the southern border states of Mexico had half as many phones per capita as the northern states. (Digital divide or digital development?) Urban internet usage is significantly higher than rural internet usage. Mexico City citizens doubled the national average in terms of computer ownership. (Digital divide or digital development?)

From Source 6 (focuses on gender)

As of 2016, 51.5% of women in Mexico had access to the internet compared to the 48.5% of men (webfoundation). Due to the pay grade gap compared between men and women in Mexico, women have a harder time affording internet access (webfoundation). The schools in Mexico also play a role in contributing to the gender gap in the digital divide. Less that 50% of secondary schools report having one computer that has internet access (webfoundation). Though the government has provided technologies that have the capability to access the internet, many of the teachers and students are not trained on how to use them (webfoundation).  

Sources for Article

Source 1:

The Digital Divide in Mexico: A Mirror of Poverty (ScienceDirect) (2016)

Source 2:

Digital divide in a developing country (ScienceDirect) (2005)

Source 3:

Digital divide or digital development?: The Internet in Mexico (FirstMonday.org) (2006)

Source 4:

New Rules to Reshape Telecom in Mexico (NYTimes) (2014)

Source 5:

Race and the Digital Divide (Robert Fairlie) (2004)

Source 6:

The Hidden gender gap: Internet access statistics in Mexico (webfoundation.org)

Note* must click on research to see statistics because the main source is a blog, you want the actual research study info that the blog used as their source.

Source 7:

Link for statistical information about access to internet/technology in Mexico: http://www.beta.inegi.org.mx/temas/ticshogares/ (it is in Spanish, but you just have to translate the page to understand it!)

Source 8:

National Survey on Availability and Use of Information Technologies in Homes 2016 (is also in Spanish but just translate it; this is what Source 7 is also based on)http://www.beta.inegi.org.mx/proyectos/enchogares/regulares/dutih/2016/

Sources 9:

Percentage of population using the internet in Mexico (Statista 1) https://www.statista.com/statistics/209112/number-of-internet-users-per-100-inhabitants-in-mexico-since-2000/

Source 10:

Internet usage in Mexico (Statista 2) https://www.statista.com/topics/3477/internet-usage-in-mexico/