1. SMARTPHONES AND SOCIAL NETWORKS DIGITALLY DIVIDING THE YOUNG AND THE OLD By Justin Oberg

2. Introduction  Internet has lead to prosperity  Gap has emerged from those who can interact online and those who cannot  The digital divide is the inequality between people based on factors in access and inequalities in the needed skills to use  There is a digital divide between the young and old. Young use smartphones to be online all the time and use social networks to interact with others whereas the old are not.

3. Smartphones  New York Times reports rise in smartphones  59% of American adults have smartphones vs. 90% have home computers  Same statistics with the people I interviewed  All adults need internet at home, only younger adults require always being online and carrying a smartphone  Access not the only issue  Requires skill

4. Social Networks  Pew Internet Project reported major divides between different age groups and how much they used social networks  Negative correlation between age and social network use  Same for the ones I interviewed  Young spend more time on social networks socializing because they are exposed as a teenager whereas older adults are exposed to these social networks after they have already developed their social connections

5. Social Networks  Social networks can be easily manipulating  Young have more experience with social networks whereas older generations lack digital skills  Rushkoff said “we are at the mercy of those who do the programming, the people paying them, or even the technology itself”  Older generations have the least experience and could be easily manipulated

6. Conclusion  Internet has given us many advancements  Unfortunately, digital divide has formed between the young and the old  Older generations find smartphones hard to use and needless and refrain from developing skills  Older generations who do not social network are at a disadvantage  We need to raise digital literacy, bridge the divide and have everyone skilled and accessible to the online world

7. Bibliography  Borchardt, Evan. Personal interview. 17 Apr. 2013.  Crawford, Susan P. "The New Digital Divide." The New York Times. The New York Times, 03 Dec. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.  Federal Communications Commission. “Fact Sheet, American Job Centers Announcement Event.” Federal Communications Commission, 16 July 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.  Lopes, Marco. Personal interview. 19 Apr. 2013.  Mahan, Stan. Personal interview. 15 Apr. 2013.  Mossberger, Karen, Caroline J. Tolbert, and Mary Stansbury. Virtual Inequality: Beyond the Digital Divide. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown UP, 2003. Print.  Oberg, John. Personal interview. 18 Apr. 2013.  Oberg, Sean. Personal interview. 18 Apr. 2013.  Rushkoff, Douglas. Program or Be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age. Berkeley, CA: Soft Skull, 2011. Print.  Zickuhr, Kathryn, and Aaron Smith. "Digital Differences." Pew Internet. Pew Research Center, 13 Apr. 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.