Impact of Technophobia on the Digital Divide. A Preliminary Case Study in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

Abstract

Over the years, technology has become an essential part of our lives, with technological advancement presenting on-going opportunities. However, it creates negative emotions, anxiety and fear among some people due to an established set of norms and individual behavior patterns. This has been described as technophobia, which constrains individuals’ ability to use technology and thus puts them at a disadvantage. The continuous emergence of new technologies has given rise to increased technophobia, which is now believed to affect a third of every population. This article examines the characteristics that influence technophobia as well as how technophobia impacts the digital divide. A quantitative methodology was employed, and 384 questionnaires were distributed to participants in East London in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The findings suggest that age, employment and educational level play a role in technophobia. However, young adults with no formal education and employment demonstrated lower levels of technophobia than other age groups. The results also showed that technophobia impacts the digital divide (access and skill). The article concludes with suggestions to manage technophobia.