Author

  • Siti Fairus Fuzi

    • College of Computing, Informatics and Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Kampus Alor Gajah, Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Nurul Emyza Zahidi

    • College of Computing, Informatics and Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Kampus Alor Gajah, Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Bushra Abdul Halim

    • College of Computing, Informatics and Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Kampus Alor Gajah, Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Siti Nursyahira Zainudin

    • College of Computing, Informatics and Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Kampus Alor Gajah, Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Siti Ramizah Jama

    • College of Computing, Informatics and Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Kampus Alor Gajah, Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Nordianah Jusoh

    • College of Computing, Informatics and Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Kampus Alor Gajah, Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Wan Hartini Wan Hassan

    • College of Computing, Informatics and Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Kampus Alor Gajah, Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

Abstract

The rapid advancement of information and communication technologies (ICTs) during this decade has increased its importance for individuals, businesses and societies. However, despite efforts to improve digital infrastructure, access, and ownership, the digital divide remains a persistent issue and a barrier to many sectors. Digital divide is not limited to physical access, but it comprises a wide range of factors. The study explores the demographic information and the access to ICT aspects (motivational access, physical access, operational skill access, formal skill access, informational skill access, and strategic skill access) that shape university students’ internet usage diversity. The study conducted an online survey on 351 students who were pursuing their studies in different disciplines at West Malaysian University. The role of demographic variables and ownership of 5 G-enabled devices in digital divide issues was investigated. Results showed that all demographic variables except gender have significantly impacted the dimensions of access to ICT to some extent. Furthermore, the study found that operational skills access, informational skills access, and physical access have predicted students' internet usage diversity. This implies the digital divide persists among university students in terms of operational skills, informational skills, and physical access to internet usage diversity. The findings also indicate that the digital divide persists across two levels of digital divide among university students in Malaysia. The results have strengthened the findings that the original digital divide of physical access has evolved into a divide that includes differences in skills to diversify internet usage.

Keywords

References

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How to Cite

Fuzi, S. F., Zahidi, N. E., Abdul Halim, B., Zainudin, S. N., Jama, S. R., Jusoh, N., & Wan Hassan, W. H. (2025). Investigating the Interplay of Motivational Access, Physical Access and Digital Skills Access to ICT on Internet Usage Diversity. Information Management and Business Review, 17(1(I)S), 297-313. https://doi.org/10.22610/imbr.v17i1(I)S.4406

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Copyright (c) 2025 Siti Fairus Fuzi, Nurul Emyza Zahidi, Bushra Abdul Halim, Siti Nursyahira Zainudin, Siti Ramizah Jama, Nordianah Jusoh, Wan Hartini Wan Hassan (Author)

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Vol. 17 No. 1(I)S (2025) Hospitality, Islamic Philanthropy & Value-Driven Markets View issue contents

Published

2025-03-31

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