Abstract

This study empirically analyzed the effect of media literacy on the formation of the smart divide, which is a multi-faceted digital divide that occurs in the context of the use of smart devices. As a result, most of the factors of media literacy affect the establishment of social relations and social network through the use of smart devices, which, in turn, leads to the expansion of the range of informational and social activities. In addition, media literacy has a significant effect on the competence to evaluate the value of information acquired through the use of smart devices. Based on these results, there can be social disparity between those who have secured media literacy and those who do not from the perspective of informational and social benefits through the use of smart devices, which can function as a mechanism to generate the smart divide.