2022 · Nature Communications
Disparate impacts on online information access during the Covid-19 pandemic
Jina Suh, Eric Horvitz, Ryen W. White, Tim Althoff
The pandemic prompted increased digital engagement for health, economic, and educational resources. Analyzing 55 billion web searches across 25,150 US ZIP codes, we found differing use of digital resources based on socioeconomic and environmental factors. Lower-income areas accessed health information less than higher-income ones. ZIP codes with more Black or Hispanic residents used unemployment resources more, with unique patterns. These disparities raise important questions about the impact of information search behaviors on disadvantaged populations.
BibTeX
@article{suhDisparateImpactsOnline2022,
title = {Disparate impacts on online information access during the Covid-19 pandemic},
author = {Jina Suh and Eric Horvitz and Ryen W. White and Tim Althoff},
year = {2022},
journal = {Nature Communications},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-022-34592-z}
}