Most people these days are glued to their phones, and more often than not, they would land on their socials to scroll and see what’s happening. While the internet is definitely more accessible today, sometimes we forget that there are parts of the world that don’t have this access. In turn, this creates a divide between those who have knowledge at the tip of their fingers and those who have difficulty accessing it.
Exploring the gap
The digital divide refers to the gap between those individuals with access to and knowledge about digital technology, and those without. Due to the constant improvements in technology, this gap can divide people not only in accessibility to knowledge but also in other quality-of-life aspects.
Education
The digital divide in education is prevalent, especially in developing countries. According to the American University’s School of Education, a student who has access to gadgets and the internet perform better than those who don’t. Of course, the assumption given is that those who have internet access can have all the information with just a single click. In areas where gadgets and internet connection are sparse, information can be quite hard to come by.
“Despite remarkable advancements in digital technology, many communities, especially in low- and middle-income countries, remain on the fringes of the digital revolution. Notably, the digital divide is not just a gap in access to technology — it's a barrier to education,… pic.twitter.com/KLhFtNMRLw
— Obaloluwa (@obalolu_wa) July 29, 2024
Employment
Similarly, employees and applicants who have access to technology can find better prospects for employment, learning, and career development. When the pandemic hit, most companies were forced to implement the work-from-home arrangement as a safety precaution for their employees.
Traditionally, people would need to physically go to work. Since the arrangement was quite new at the time for the general public, some were struggling to work within the space they lived in. This was especially hard for those living in the provinces or remote areas as the internet connection might not be as stable. Companies also had to invest in laptops for their employees as desktops were all at the office. In the worst-case scenario, companies that didn’t have the resources to provide laptops to their employees simply needed to close shop for a while since no work could be done.
Errands
Due to the pandemic, online shopping has easily become a widespread aspect of our society. Not only did it reduce the possibility of going out and getting sick, but it also saved a lot of time for consumers to do their shopping or groceries. It’s also a plus that people can do window shopping easily with just a click of a button.
Bridging the gap
The digital divide spans an individual’s digital literacy as well. Even with the availability of computers in public spaces, some don’t know how to operate computers or search the web. With digital literacy, it opens more doors for individuals to discover new things, gain knowledge, and learn skills.
https://twitter.com/Computer_Aid/status/1822910402004398335
Local government’s aid
For those living in remote areas or the provinces, the best first step it could take is to seek aid from their local government. Ideally, the government should be able to allocate computers and internet services to schools so students may access them anytime. Public libraries can also extend their opening hours and offer more resources so people can access the internet for information.
Free seminars
As mentioned a while ago, even with computers abound, it’s important to have basic digital literacy to maximize the technology one has. Providing a digital literacy program can help individuals navigate the digital world. This is also important for those with limited knowledge about the internet space to arm themselves against scammers online. Having basic knowledge of what an online scam would look like can help them be safe when they browse the internet, such as when transacting online.
Acknowledge privilege
Those of us who are digitally literate must be willing to share our knowledge and resources with others instead of belittling those who don’t have the resources we have. By acknowledging our privilege and taking steps to help others, we may improve their quality of life as well. Donating gadgets that we no longer use and teaching someone can be simple ways we can help others and bridge the digital divide. By working together as a society, bridging the gap between the digital divide can be achieved.
Photo credit: The feature image has been taken by Ari He.
Source: American University’s School of Education
