the digital divide
The gap between people who have access to modern technology and the internet and those who do not.
writing-task-2Education
IELTS use
Use this phrase when discussing online education, inequality, rural areas, low-income families, or government investment in technology.
Examples
- The digital divide became more visible when schools moved lessons online.
- Providing free internet access can help reduce the digital divide.
Collocations
- bridge the digital divide
- Governments should invest in rural broadband to bridge the digital divide.
- widen the digital divide
- Expensive devices may widen the digital divide between rich and poor students.
Word family
- Noun
- divide
- Verb
- divide
- Adjective
- digital
- Adverb
- digitally
Paraphrases
- unequal access to technology: A direct paraphrase useful in body paragraphs.
- technology access gap: Shorter and clear, though slightly less formal.
Common mistakes
- digital gap to the digital divide. The digital divide is the established phrase in academic and policy contexts.