The divide between us: internet access among people with and without disabilities in the post-pandemic era.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of internet access across various aspects of life, from remote work and online education to healthcare services and social connections. As we transition to a post-pandemic era, a pressing need arises to update our understanding of the multifaceted nat...

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Publicado en:Disability & Society Vol. 40; no. 8; pp. 2055 - 2077
Autores principales: Pacheco, Edgar, Burgess, Hannah
Formato: research Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Aug2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Aug2025
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
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        atl: The divide between us: internet access among people with and without disabilities in the post-pandemic era.
      aug:
        au:
          Pacheco, Edgar
          Burgess, Hannah
        affil: School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
      sug:
        subj:
          Internet Access Trends
          Persons with Disabilities
          Digital Divide
          COVID-19 Pandemic
          New Zealand
          Human
          Internet Connections
          Social Media
          Wireless Communications
          Questionnaires
          Attitude to Risk
          Consumer Attitudes
          Confidence Intervals
          Descriptive Statistics
          Male
          Female
          Adolescence
          Adult
          Middle Age
          Aged
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Aged: 65+ years
          Male
          Female
      ab: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of internet access across various aspects of life, from remote work and online education to healthcare services and social connections. As we transition to a post-pandemic era, a pressing need arises to update our understanding of the multifaceted nature of internet access. This study is one of the first attempts to do so. Using survey data from New Zealand adult internet users (n = 960), it compares internet connection types, frequency of internet use at home, social media use, and concerns about online risk between people with and without disabilities. Results show people with disabilities have restricted fibre access and higher wireless broadband (a much slower connection type). People with disabilities use social media platforms less and are more concerned about certain online risks. The findings highlight persistent disparities in internet access for people with disabilities in the post-pandemic era. Implications of the study are discussed. Points of interest: The study explores internet access and compares trends between people with and without disabilities from New Zealand in the aftermaths of the pandemic. Internet access is investigated in terms of its frequency of use at home, type of internet connection, frequency of social media use, and perceptions about the benefits of the internet as well as concerns related to online risks. The data indicate that inequities in internet access exist. A disability broadband divide has been identified, with disabled people having less access to faster internet connections than non-disabled people. There were significant differences in the frequency with which people with and without disabilities used the internet at home and used prominent social media sites. People with disabilities are also more concerned about internet threats like conspiracy theories and hate speech.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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