Examining the Digital Divide in Türkiye Within a Multi-Level Framework

Vollständiger Abstract

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This study examines the digital divide in Türkiye within a relational and multi-level framework, encompassing first-level (motivation and access), second-level (digital skills and usage), and third-level (outcomes) dimensions. The research is based on data collected from ICT users aged 18 and over across Türkiye, and the analyses were conducted on a final sample of 1,033 participants obtained through proportional probability sampling. A two-stage analytical design was employed. In the first stage, the effects of socio-demographic variables—including age, gender, education, income, marital status, settlement, English proficiency, number of children in the household, personality traits, and employment status—on digital divide indicators were tested using multiple linear regression analysis. The findings indicate that age, education, income, English proficiency, personality structure, and employment status exert significant and differentiating effects on digital inequalities. In the second stage, the causal and hierarchical structure of the digital divide was tested through a structural equation model inspired by Van Dijk’s Resources and Appropriation Theory. The results reveal strong and multidimensional relationships among motivation, access, skills, usage, and outcomes, confirming that digital inequalities in Türkiye are closely intertwined with socio-demographic dynamics. In this respect, the study contributes to the literature by empirically testing the digital divide through an integrated model, offering a comprehensive framework that moves beyond fragmented approaches.