Barriers to Adoption in Chicago Neighborhoods

Do barriers to technology use differ across city neighbourhoods, and how do they compare to national data? Using multilevel models and the Chicago survey discussed in Chapter 6, the analysis here examines neighbourhood-level influences and variation in barriers to technology use. The results clearly show that contextual factors in poor neighbourhoods magnify technology disparities, and this is true for both African- American and Latino neighborhoods. Introducing neighbourhood characteristics reveals some patterns that are otherwise obscured, and the need to consider place effects. African-Americans who live in poor neighbourhoods are more likely to cite barriers such as lack of skill and cost than African-Americans more generally. Residents of neighbourhoods with high concentrations of Latinos experience multiple and significant barriers (including lack of interest), and strategies for addressing digital inequalities must take into account some differences between low-income communities. Together with chapter 6, this analysis demonstrates the significance of place, and suggests that targeted and community-driven policies are warranted.