ISSUES IN INTERNET ADOPTION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT: THEORY OF THE DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION
Abstract
New communication technology plays an important role in most people's day-to-day lives. The new media such as internet and other wireless media have also become successful development communication media at national and international levels. The internet is also a vehicle to reach rural development goals such as promoting the rural economy and social infrastructure (Updated UNESCO Discussion Paper 2013). The internet serves as an agent of change in rural areas and it has the potential to bridge the digital divide between the information rich and the information poor in developing countries. It has had a positive effect on the livelihood, health, education and economic situation of many rural people (Zhao 2008). Most of developing countries have low access to new communication media for rural development purposes, making a great digital divide between rural and urban communities (Xiaoming & Jinqiu 2008).
Author Biographies
Thushari Madhubhashini Galagedarage is a lecturer in the Department in Social Studies, Open University of Sri Lanka. She obtained her Ph.D. from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 2014. Her current area of academic interest is in new media and development, the digital divide and rural empowerment.
Ali Salman is currently an Associate Professor at the School of Media and Communication Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. His current area of academic interest is in new media and development, focusing on digital inclusion beyond the digital divide, and factors affecting new media acceptance and sustainability.
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