A New Digital Divide Between Foreign Migrant Children And Urban Students

By December 2015, Chinese youth (6-25 years old) Internet users have reached 287 million, accounting for 85.3% of the total youth population in China, according to China Youth Online Behavior Research Report of 2015 released by China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) in 2016. Data shows that the gap between urban and rural youth Internet users in physical access is gradually diminishing.However,nowadays a new phrase 'the new digital divide' ( which is also called digital inequality) appeared to refer to the gap which separates those with the competences and skills to benefit from computer use from those who do not.This paper aims at exploring the digital inequality issues among urban and migrant students. Three primaty schools and three secondary schools were selected,involving 1309 students in Grade 5 and Grade 8, who study together and share the same resources in city ereas.We conducted our study from the three following dimensions:(1) Situation investigation. By reading and combing comprehensive literature, we determined the dimensions of digital inequality, translated and revised the existing questionnaire of measuring digital inequality, and conducted it. Based on the data analysis, this study found that there exists differences in the ICT usage, the variation of use and digital skills between urban and migrant students. Thay's to say there is indeed digital inequality between the two groups.(2) Factors influencing the digital inequality. The correlation analysis was applied to investigate the predictors across the four dimensions: characteristics, technical apparatus, ICT experience, autonomy of use, variation of use and parenting style. The results show that the observed differences in factors were relatively associated with students' digital skill, except gender.(3) Digital inequality and their outcomes. The regression analysis was applied to investigate the influence on students' eyesight, academic performance and family harmony. This study found that there digital inequality is not a significant predictor of student eyesight, but negatively associated with academic performance and family harmony.Based on the conclusions, we suggest that: (1) schools should provide students with more opportunities to access and use information technology as far as possible to narrow the differences in the use of ICT experience between the two groups. (2) From the perspective of social justice,narrowing the economic gap between different groups is necessary. (3) Parents shoud take a correct attitude to ICT,especially migrant workers.