Low-income and at-risk youth are at a disadvantage in today’s job market due to the fact that they have limited or no access to computers, internet service, broadband or important computer software. Multi-player online games require high speed internet service. Xbox, PlayStation and WII all have online capabilities. Players are able to play online with friends and others from around the country. All systems require access to the internet. Along with the need for internet access the player also needs the software and computer hardware necessary to run the games. Necessary computer components can cost thousands of dollars and games can run from $19 to $60 per game. Online subscriptions can run from free to $20 monthly fees. The following studies show the statistical disadvantages that low income youth have compared to high income youth in these areas.
Table 1
A summary of computer and Internet access for students living in households with incomes of $15,000 or less, versus students living in households with incomes of $75,000 or more.
Tab le 1. Computer and Internet Access: Differences by Income
| Income Level | Computer at home | Internet access at home | Broadband at home |
| Above $75,000 | 96% | 93% | 51% |
| Below $15,000 | 45% | 29% | 7% |
Sources : National Center for Education Statistics, Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools and Classrooms:
1994- 2003. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education (2005); U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current
Population Survey, (September 2004). Accessed through (Venegas, 2005).
The data presented above highlights how differences in income correlate with great disparities in access to computers at home. Less than 50 percent of low income students have a computer available to them at home to complete school assignments, much less to access the Internet. There are even greater gaps in access to the Internet. Less than 30 percent of low-income students have Internet access at home and only 7 percent have a high speed Internet connection.
Jeff Carver, a Professor at the University of Maryland wrote in his research that, “The gap between the usage of computers and the Internet by high-income and low-income groups is growing. This issue is one that will greatly affect the future of America. If people are unable to use the technology needed to be successful, then in a few years from now, this country could be at a disadvantage compared with others. There are many indicators that the problem is not one of lack of desire by the users, rather it is more an access and guidance problem (Carver, 2000).”
The NPR, Kaiser Family Foundation and the Kennedy School conducted a poll in 1999 to study the widespread enthusiasm for technology. The found what they called the ‘Digital Divide’. The poll showed that: There was a widening gap between the haves and have nots:
“Americans are more likely to say computers widen the gap (45%) in income and opportunity between the haves and have not’s in society than to say computers narrow the gap (11%) or do not make much of a difference (39%). Most (57%) believe the government should help low-income people get access to computers and the Internet (and 78% say the government should help low-income children) (NPR, 1999).
Schools are helping with computer access but studies show that 94% of wealthy schools have access to internet where only 84% of schools that serve the poor population have access. Also, The Commerce Department estimates there were six students for each computer in K-12 schools in 1999 (Department of Commerce, 1999). The Department of Commerce stated that the “Demand for highly-skilled information technology workers leads all other occupations and is expected to continue in the years ahead (Department of Commerce, 1999).”
CivSource is a website dedicated to providing the latest news on country, state and local politics, management and business. In a 2010 article written by Jeffery Smith; Smith writes that, “According to an analysis conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Projects, the internet and related technologies remain much more pervasive for high-income earners than other groups of Americans. After controlling for a number of characteristics, like community types, race, age and education, the report found income was the biggest determinant… (Smith, 2010).”
It seems to me that here is a cause that game companies can support. I have seen many of them give to disaster relief, but this is something that is right up their alley. Donate games and gaming software to schools or related non-profits. This would make a huge social impact and put gaming in a whole new light.
Sources:
1. Jeff Carver, University of Maryland Internet and Computer Usage by Low-Income Groups. http://otal.umd.edu/uuguide/carver/2. NPR Online, http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/poll/technology/
3. Kristan Venegas, Internet and College Access: Challenges for Low-Income Students. http://www.aft.org/pdfs/highered/academic/january07/Venegas.pdf
4. Kaiser Family Foundation: http://www.kff.org/entpartnerships/upload/Public-Service-Ads-to-Help-Disadvantaged-Youth-Bridge-the-Digital-Divide-Fact-Sheet.pdf
5. CivSource: http://civsourceonline.com/2010/11/29/digital-divide-deepens-between-income-levels-new-survey-finds/
6. D-Lib Magazine: http://www.dlib.org/dlib/february02/kirriemuir/02kirriemuir.html
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