Bridging the Access Divide
Did you know that nearly 5 billion people do not have access to a computer/Internet? That’s over sixty percent of the world’s population! As you can see, the digital divide needs a little help closing the gap globally and socially. Thinking big can set the tone for the future of work towards bridging this divide through digital literacy & innovation.
When it comes to the global divide, there are a few different reasons that pertain to the state of a region’s digital awareness. Less industrialized nations with low wealth are primary places that need the most help. Their inadequate telecommunication infrastructures make it difficult to promote the use of modern technology, let alone luxuries like Wi-Fi and good connection. This also means that social media like Instagram and Facebook aren’t widely used in these “dead zones”, which could also lead to specific languages having little to no representation on the platforms. One way to close this digital divide is promotion of innovation through the expansion of technologies in underdeveloped countries. By recommending that the “Tech nerds” of the world put their heads together to spread the knowledge of internet accessibility, we could see a very powerful shift in progress towards making more people digitally equipped.
In addition to the global predicament, there is a social one. While we think of far away countries in need of access to modern internet, this problem also exists in our own cities through many demographics. Age, income, and race can affect the likelihood of one’s digital availability, which in turn will affect everyone related to this person. One of the biggest categories of influence when it comes to the digital divide is education. While education comes from the school you go to and the family who raised you, it also pertains to digital literacy. The promotion of digital literacy across the board can help with having good knowledge, ability, attitude, and behavior towards networked devices. Understanding and implementing socio-economic, cultural, political, and behavioral aspects of digital literacy is important especially when dealing with news pertaining to our health and livelihood.
Bridging the digital divide is crucial if we want prosperity for all. I believe if we work together, closing the gap can be more attainable and undoubtedly lifechanging for those involved. Through digital literacy and promotion of innovation, strides can be made to eliminate the divide once and for all.
