Convergent Television Audiences, Digital Inequalities, and Social Support in Getting Audiovisual Content

Abstract

Seeking help from others is one of the major strategies enabling online viewers to overcome their inability to access audiovisual content. Nevertheless, existing research on digital inequalities has given limited attention to help-seekers. Using a representative sample of Czech adults (N = 4,294), we examined how these viewers differed from successful self-reliants and those who remained on the disadvantaged side of the digital divide. The study rejects the assumption that help-seekers distinction can be attributed to socioeconomic differences. It concludes that the availability of helpers and attitudes toward social interactions are essential and that help-seekers are more likely women.