The digital divide before the Covid-19 pandemic: households between possibility and digital exclusion

Abstract

During this past year, with the Covid-19 pandemic, the adoption of digital technologies has taken on particular relevance in the different areas of daily life, opening up the need for a greater diffusion of the use of ICT (Information Communication Technology) for Italian households. This paper draws on micro-data from community survey on ICT usage by households and individuals conducted for Italy by Istat to develop an analysis on digital divide. The unit of analysis was household. If there is a technologically equipped member of the household, he or she could act as a " mediator " for the other members in the usage of ICT. The digital divide has been analysed through two dimensions, one related to access and the other to digital skills.