Using digital media opens up new avenues for political participation, and political information has become accessible at our fingertips. Yet, we seem confronted with countless defining challenges of our times: polarization, populism, democratic backsliding, decreasing political trust, and the list goes on. Not everyone receives digital information in the same way, and digital infrastructures do not make political engagement equally accessible to all.

Mapping Global Digital Political Inequality (external link) by Daniel S. Lane, Emilija Gagrčin and Ying Qi Pan adresses this reality by spotlighting inequality, and introducing the concept of digital political inequality. 

Understanding inequality is key when researching digital media and its impact on political life. This Element presents a quick and article-like dive into the concept, without sacrificing the depth of a book-length publication. It provides a useful framework for the study of global political inequality in the digital age, supported by rich empirical insights, and offers a valuable resource for media use researchers and students alike. 

About the book

Title: Mapping Global Digital Political Inequality

Authors: Daniel S. Lane (University of California, Santa Barbara), Emilija Gagrčin (University of Bremen, Germany), and Ying Qi Pan (University of California, Santa Barbara)

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication: 27. August 2026