In the early 2000s the New York Times ran many articles about the digital divide, arguing technology would widen inequality because rich children had home computers and poor children did not.

True if a search of the New York Times archive finds many articles (roughly half a dozen or more news, opinion or feature pieces) from about 2000–2005 about the 'digital divide' that present the gap in home computer or internet access between rich and poor children or families as a cause of growing inequality, including through homework or schooling. Mostly true if many such articles exist but the focus on children or homework is a minor part of them, or most date from the late 1990s rather than the early 2000s. Mixed if the Times covered the digital divide in that period but only in a few articles, or mostly without the argument that it would widen inequality. Mostly false if there were only one or two such articles, or if coverage was mostly sceptical of the digital divide idea. False if the Times archive shows essentially no coverage of the digital divide in that period.

Set before the research began.

1. E1 The Jobs Letter No.131 The Jobs Research Trust (The Jobs Letter) · 25 September 2000

   “Over the last few months, the coalition has been publishing a series of provocative full-page advertisements in the New York Times, warning of the effects of "technomania" on local communities.”

2. E2 Census Bureau: Home PCs on The Rise ABC News · 5 September 2001

   “According to the report, some 94 percent of school-aged children (ages 6 to 17) in families that earn $75,000 or more have access to computer at home. But, only 35 percent of kids in families that make less than $25,000 annually can make the same claim.”

3. E3 Census Bureau: Home PCs on The Rise ABC News · 5 September 2001

   “"Schools have this very strong leveling effect," says Newburger.”

4. E4 Closing the Digital Divide Education Week · 10 May 2001

   “By contrast, upscale communities have many layers of access, he points out, from schools to libraries to many other organizations with various styles, themes, and hours of operation—plus the ubiquitous home computer.”

5. E5 Closing the Digital Divide Education Week · 10 May 2001

   “Some researchers, too, have voiced skepticism about the seriousness of the divide, suggesting the problem has been exaggerated”

The criteria require New York Times articles from about 2000–2005 on the digital divide, but none of the evidence cites such articles. E1 describes paid full-page advertisements by a coalition in the Times about "technomania", which are not Times news, opinion or feature pieces. E2–E5 are ABC News and Education Week reports: they confirm the digital divide was discussed in 2001, including the gap in home computer access by income (E2), but say nothing about how much the Times covered it or how. The evidence therefore does not settle the claim.