Online Segregation Model

The following is a model of the effects of online segregation among Christians. You can find the full article here. This model is a work in progress, and it is a part of a Wiki where others can make suggestions to improve on the model.

Assumptions

1. Assessing the Value of Christian Links

  • Christian websites get 5 billion page views per month
  • The average page has 4 outgoing links to other Christian sites (Best guess. Would appreciate anyone who has a data source)
  • The average click-through rate on those links is 1% (Source: various web marketing books although this number varies widely)
  • Current average cost per click on Christian advertising is $.50 (Source estimate from Google Ads)
  • Half of all links are non-commercial among Christian sites

(50 billion page views) x (4 links per page) x (.5% clickthrough rate) x ($.25 cost per click) = $250 million/month or $3 billion/year

2. Assessing extent of online segregation in interlinking between resourced sites and organizations serving under-resourced communities

  • 95% of Christian websites are primarily serving resourced communities (estimate based on digital divide stats and organizations)
  • 5% of Christian websites are primarily serving under-resourced communities (estimate based on digital divide stats and organizations)

Percent of Interlinking Among Christian Websites Based on Primary Communities Served
These assumptions are a best guess, but would need to be tested with empirical data. (Any researchers willing to help with this?)

  • Resourced to Resource: 95%
  • Resource to Under-Resourced: 5%
  • Under-Resourced to Resourced: 50%
  • Under-Resourced to Under Resourced: 50%
  • Percent of Population that is Low-Income in USA: 21% (at 150% of poverty line)

Value of Interlinking

 Resourced
Communities
Under-Resource
Communities
Value of Interlinking of Christian
Websites With Current Online Segregation
$2,715 million$285 million/year
Value of Interlinking of Christian Websites
with Equal Distribution of Links
$2,283 million$717 million/year
Net Cost of SegregationGained
($432 million)
Lost
$432 million/year

 

Please post comments below.

Faith (for Content):