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 Segregation | Gained ($432 million) | Lost $432 million/year |
Please post comments below.