ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the relation between Internet penetration, and basic indicators of well being, poverty, and good governance in selected Latin America countries in order to situate the case of Mexico in the regional context. In 2010, the Mexican National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) conducted a household survey on the availability and use of information technology. The term digital divide refers to disparities between individuals within developing states regarding access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The social networks and affiliations within a society that can collaborate to promote social goods known as social capital benefit from increased access to information through ICTs. The evolution of Web 2.0 and social media has provided new techniques for online community engagement. The emergence of citizen created content has opened additional avenues for dialogue between citizens and communities in ways that facilitate creativity, interaction, and free expression of diverse opinions, thus enriching socio-political debates.
