Characteristics of Information Poverty in Rural Areas in the Era of Digitalization & Intellectualization: Explorations Based on Field Cases

Abstract

[Purpose/Significance] As the new generation of ICTs, such as 5G, big data and artificial intelligence, continues to release development effects in the construction of digital countryside, rural residents in an information disadvantaged position are likely to be excluded by a new round of ICT innovation wave and fall into a new information poverty. Therefore, sorting out the new characteristics of rural information poverty in the digital era is of great practical significance. [Method/Process] The basic information, ICT access and use, information behavior and information environment of rural residents were obtained through field investigation and in-depth interview, and the characteristics of rural information poverty in the era of digitalization & intellectualization were sorted out. [Results/Conclusions] Six new changes brought by digitalization and intelligentization to rural information practice are described. It is found that factors such as time and space energy, intellectual level, social support and individual psychological factors affect the accumulation of digital capital of rural residents. It has concluded characteristics of rural information poverty, such as invalid use of ICT equipment, a new round of digital exclusion and invalid digital feedback.

Keywords

• information poverty|digitalization|intellectualization|rural residents|information society