While the digital divide is shrinking, certain groups still lag behind those with low incomes and less education. Even more important than income, education, or access to a home computer, “Internet connectedness” also depends on one’s social environment. People are more likely to use the Internet if they have family and friends who also use the Internet, can help them resolve Internet-related problems, and who see the Internet as playing an important role in their lives (e.g., getting in touch with people when looking for a job, gaining skills for career development, getting work done, providing amusement, etc. Even larger inequalities exist outside the United States. Africa contains more than 14 percent of the world’s population but just 3 percent of the world’s Internet users, while North America contains only 5 percent of the world’s population but accounts for 17.5 percent or the world’s Internet users.