Cybercafes as Instances of Public Access to Information and Coadjuvant in Closing the Digital Divide in Morelos, Mexico

This article presents the results of a research aimed at diagnosing the digital divide among users of cybercafes in Morelos (Mexico) in terms of access to Internet services (determinants) as well as the identification and management of information. For this purpose, a survey was designed and applied to 116 informants in 14 municipalities of Morelos. Results indicate that cybercafes function as access points to information, technological devices, and Internet navigation, thus reducing the digital divide, particularly in rural areas. It was also found that cybercafes allow users to access several services, users attend to obtain printing services, carry out governmental procedures and information searches, which would not be possible without the existence of cybercafes.