What is the digital divide? The digital divide is the gap between people who have access to modern communication technologies, such as cellphones and the internet, and those who do not.What causes the digital divide? The digital divide occurs due to several societal factors (think affordability and access to community resources) and has far-reaching effects, from education to health care to lifetime earning potential.High-speed internet access is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.
Rafi Goldberg Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Policy Analysis and Development Why does the digital divide matter? Nearly 94% of U.S.residents use the internet in 2025, according to Data Reportal.Yet, a Pew Research report shared that “lack of fast internet connection plagues some 24 million Americans.” In other words, technology is vital to many sectors of society — without it, communities are facing dire effects in more ways than one.
Jump to each section to learn more about how the digital divide affects each area: Education Health care Jobs Education The digital divide has created significant educational disparities that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue today.The homework gap: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports that nearly 17 million children are without internet access at home, creating a disadvantage for students who need Wi-Fi to complete school assignments Academic setbacks: According to Pew Research, 24% of teens in low-income households are unable to complete homework due to a lack of reliable computer or internet access, and nearly one-third of U.S.teens report facing at least one academic challenge related to a lack of technology access at home Digital skills gap: According to the Benton Institute, the gap between students with no home internet access (or cellphone only) and those with home internet access is equivalent to the gap in digital skills between eighth- and 11th-grade students Health care Telehealth has become an extremely popular way for people to quickly visit their doctor, and a particularly valuable practice for those living in remote areas or who lack transportation.
Underserved communities suffer without internet: The digital divide prevents access to telehealth resources for many, reinforcing inequalities in health care access in already marginalized communities Telehealth on the rise: According to the American Medical Association, over 71% of physicians reported using telehealth in their practices weekly in 2024 Jobs Remote jobs can create valuable opportunities for people in rural areas or those without transportation.Reliable Wi-Fi needed for remote work: Limited internet access can prevent people from securing remote roles, often in areas where households would benefit the most Job opportunities: According to a study by Deutsche Bank, a gap in internet connections could leave more than half of Black and Hispanic people underprepared for 86% of jobs by 2045 The internet providers helping bridge the digital divide Top providers that have claimed a commitment to closing the digital divide through service footprint expansions include AT&T and Spectrum.AT&T has committed $5 billion by 2030 to help 25 million people get connected to affordable, high-speed internet and digital resources, with a focus on underserved communities, like rural or mountainous areas Spectrum is expanding access to rural areas through its rural construction initiative, bringing internet access to an additional one million previously unserved and underserved locations since 2021 Find affordable internet near you Many top internet providers also provide low-income options to qualifying households for cheap internet.
Eligible customers must generally participate in a government assistance program to get low-cost internet.Top providers offering discounted internet programs for low-income households include: Xfinity Internet Essentials: $14.95 – $29.95/mo.for 75 or 100 Mbps Spectrum Internet Assist: $24.99/mo.
for 50 Mbps Access from AT&T: 30 Mbps for $30.00/mo.Mediacom Xtream Connect: $29.99/mo.for up to 100 Mbps Cox Connect Assist: $30.00/mo.
for up to 100 Mbps Cox Connect2Compete: $9.95/mo.for up to 100 Mbps Optimum Advantage Internet: $14.99/mo.for up to 100 Mbps Find internet deals in your area Accessibility and affordability: The main problems of the digital divide Allconnect’s survey of more than 1,200 adults found that race and income are the biggest factors that determine if you have a home internet connection, echoing a number of studies on the digital divide in recent years.
High broadband prices and lack of internet options can also cause people to forgo home internet.For this reason, rural residents and low-income households are the primary demographics of people who lack internet access.Quality of internet: Even in areas with internet access, the quality of the service can be below par.
The FCC’s minimum broadband speed standard (for internet service to be considered high speed) is 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload — which is not always sufficient for households needing internet that can support online learning, remote work, health care, streaming and more Accessibility: The expansion of rural broadband is an expensive and lengthy process.While the federal government has invested billions in rural broadband access over the past decade, approximately 24 million rural residents in America still lack broadband access Affordability: According to the Pew Research, over half of Americans who lack internet access say that it is because of price — and in fact, the average cost of internet service in the U.S.is $76.00/mo.
Households with an income of $30,000/yr.have a particularly hard time affording internet service, with 22% of children of low-income families lacking an internet connection Programs working to solve the digital divide The U.S.has various programs and laws directed at closing the digital divide: Stay connected to our Resource Center for the latest developments on bridging the digital divide.
For researchers and journalists If you would like to know more about this topic, we can assist you.Our experts can help you dig deeper into the data.Email our experts Digital divide FAQs What is the digital divide? The digital divide is the gap between those who have access to computers and the internet and those who do not.
What are examples of the digital divide? Examples of the digital divide include being able to afford an internet plan, having and using a computer or cellphone or having access to educational and medical resources online.Who is most affected by the digital divide? Low-income households, people of color and older or Native Americans are most affected by the digital divide.People who live in very rural areas are also less likely to have access to internet services.
What resources are there to close the digital divide? Edutopia provides digital divide resources like research, reports and action groups. What to read next Read more Featured Tips to improve your internet connection and boost Wi-Fi signal Camryn Smith — 6 min read Featured Why are millions still without internet access? Lisa Iscrupe — 4 min read Featured What can you do with a 100 Mbps plan? Camryn Smith — 3 min read Latest Friday, August 21, 2026 What is the digital divide and how does it affect you? Lisa Iscrupe — 4 min read Wednesday, August 19, 2026 The internet speeds Americans actually choose Lisa Iscrupe — 4 min read Wednesday, August 19, 2026 We analyzed 150 internet plans.Here’s what internet costs in 2026 Camryn Smith — 9 min read
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