First-level fundamentals: computer ownership is more
important for internet benefits than in-home
internet service

First-level fundamentals: computer ownership is more
important for internet benefits than in-home
internet service

first-level digital divide, access inequity, resources and appropriation theory, technology maintenance, internet, computer

Although computers, smartphones, and internet service are essential 21st century tools, digital equity stakeholders often focus on in-home internet service in their advocacy. Yet few scholars have compared the associated benefits of different fundamental digital resources. In response, a cross-sectional analysis of two waves of U.S. census data (2020, N ¼ 84,206; 2023, N ¼ 82,941) revealed that computer use (laptop/
desktop) was consistently a stronger predictor of beneficial internet use (e.g., job searches, government resources, and eHealth) than smartphone access or in-home internet service, and device quality explained additional model variance. Moreover, computer use without in-home internet was more beneficial than in-home internet without computer use, and in-home internet was especially important in homes with smartphones. These findings add nuance to resources and appropriation theory and the technology maintenance framework, and underscore that
internet and devices are both important, requiring policies that facilitate access to both

Amy L. Gonzales1,� , and Ceciley (Xinyi) Zhang1

https://watermark02.silverchair.com/zmaf007.pdf?token=AQECAHi208BE49Ooan9kkhW_Ercy7Dm3ZL_9Cf3qfKAc485ysgAAA1MwggNPBgkqhkiG9w0BBwagggNAMIIDPAIBADCCAzUGCSqGSIb3DQEHATAeBglghkgBZQMEAS4wEQQMH03rNHGxHCrZqeyoAgEQgIIDBgIG2pID233u5tX0QjpcdQaQRlr3SOd8PTHjRZSTygBJmX4ccJzxbTE9CTwNxXwDpQwNBJiEhg2tmzkqWkz7_t7t_D2JTX57GG7j4iI5eXEEgCbmV2p-B4rbTyJpS5utO9zMhIig1pQdrl9B6pPc1PFJP5bR4FXJ9Z-DOTDCOtiFVWIv5BhAMX9tW2028v-4K5-XHaEpPatUZBczAgfbSzOo1qILZ0xspjHrJwfxync0yIhl-0jObFo1e8uX-dhOr273r0YWKMSrZI6zylzfaRNrglG4lw42fkk7fLm3aFovTF-Vevt__xTYeo4vCFG8pLegypSLmQI7u-HdqukznwNWOG4X_1QKzP4rzx7D2eL2uZosQg5R_i6-TRqNNwfLVE-S-rplZ6nJyIcWMGVahhzPjqkzaa3fSrQyckY7SrkH6BtRJ0qNbR4jAeMT4vOTgrljkDP6c08QFOhdeA4bWwnEbjs5kxIlo57WVCbzoLoat9tLhWDhm3G9mxRvAd_kiTV6y7G-MEm0bsAifMMyM24mNxTsoKE3gDPHJ1SKsGYIaIxTN3f2B6vmfxToMxc2F-olvLUJ8q1Awq0i-BKsKRqTZnYEq2F2ivjKh1GwxxGQtitrlI46SJMXqcWaLT6Df39dozt4unlSxvQXTA-fElYQCWlPzNRx9wmKIP3v2LIw5qe_EJqMolxX1sR-yzocp_KyRLNCkON5GboVuAHJLqDibHl8egs7qvC3fzCYOcY8t1sNju9xJXApYMnm9hjgjr5T1kmfInf_u3sT3s3j90sR5vEBZKH1cBXE4DfRoopM4wXyIkdJlsmZo1mqf8li7ABG2ixQG4C8pvg_M3VkJYklnbVZseiqrQGYTlcwqARBd7M6urlJWWed6XmMcGBsB_64kGgknFTjXgvCJB9AKgn4zY878iHLBuN_F0ma9DKcMS0oLhUMct5KUb40pQn7GsJxORZZjZvf2wkT_rL6ZuBvU4oYeeq2KiOQNr7Afi5LVRYvf2T6IQ3wukGuzeY18abf6rnPvQ

oxford academic

25 march 2025

Fajar bagus W

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