Digital Inequality and Social Stratification in Contemporary Societies: A Hybrid Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Mahmuda Aulia; Khairul Musrizal

doi:10.70148/rise.v3i5.1

Authors

Mahmuda Aulia Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Malikussaleh, Lhokseumawe, Indonesia Author
Khairul Musrizal Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70148/rise.v3i5.1

Keywords:

Digital Inequality, Social Staratification, Systematic Literature Review, Bibliometric analysis, VOSviewer, Digital divide, Digital inclusion, Literature Review, Social inequality

Abstract

This study integrates a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis to examine global research on digital inequality within the broader context of social stratification. Data were retrieved from the Scopus database on 14 February 2026, initially identifying 408 publications between 2001 and 2026. Following a rigorous screening process based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 225 peer-reviewed journal articles were selected for final analysis. Bibliometric mapping and visualization were conducted using VOSviewer to identify publication trends, thematic clusters, and intellectual structures. The findings indicate substantial growth in scholarship over time, with research heavily concentrated in Western nations, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom. The dominant thematic domains include digital access and skills, social and economic inequality, educational stratification, and digital inclusion. Collectively, these themes demonstrate that digital inequality is a multidimensional, structural condition that actively reproduces unequal life chances across social groups rather than a mere technological gap. Based on these insights, this study proposes an integrative conceptual model structured across input (socio-structural conditions and digital resources), process (differentiated digital engagement), and output (stratified social, economic, and civic outcomes) dimensions. This framework extends existing literature by positioning digital exclusion as a core mechanism of contemporary social reproduction. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive mapping of global publication patterns and intellectual directions in the field. The findings highlight the need for future research to expand data sources beyond a single database and incorporate diverse regional, non-Western contexts to foster a more inclusive and globally representative understanding of digital stratification.

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