Abstract
Japan's social digital divide is being formed by the following elements: 1) the type of ICT (computers vs. web-enabled cellular phones or PDAs) use, 2) self-efficacy in using ICT, the mindset, and privacy concerns, 3) educational level, 4) age, 5) socio-economic level, 6) strategic (digital) skills, 7) instrumental (digital) skills and ability to bypass technical problems, 8) informational (digital) skills, foreign language faculty and cultural receptiveness. Through examining the result of two surveys, this paper examines how a type of stratification is being formulated - a digital stratification, instead of the current binary concept of the digital divide of "haves and have-nots" of ICT. This construct was initially conceptualized for providing a better understanding of the social digital divide in Japan, however it can be used for investigating the actual conditions of other nations and will be useful in developing systematic strategies for digital inclusion.
