Addressing the digital divide
As our world grows at a rapid pace, the inequality gaps in society have also inevitably widened as well. While in most developed countries technology can be easily accessed, there are still varying degrees of understanding in regards to technology and the internet. This disparity is usually influenced by socioeconomic status and accessibility and can have many implications for how an individual interacts with technology. One such implication is for students in underserved communities where access to all digital needs may not be possible. The lack of appropriate technology resources can have a negative effect on academic outcomes as they may not have the required materials to access or complete coursework. In this way, there has been a growing urgency to address the digital divide.
Digital divide refers to “the growing gap between the underprivileged members of society, especially the poor, rural, elderly, and handicapped portion of the population who do not have access to computers or the internet; and the wealthy, middle-class, and young Americans living in urban and suburban areas who have access” (“Digital Divide”, stanford.edu).
The digital divide is when different demographic groups have varied range of access to technological devices and the Internet. Not only is it the lack of access to computers for but also the lack of resources that equip people with knowledge and skills that allow them to use technology. The digital divide is not a black and white issue. Rather, it is a multifaceted and complex problem that can be addressed through changes in the infrastructure (Pazurek & Feyissa, 2015). To mitigate this digital divide, we must aim for digital equity.
Digital equity refers to “the condition in which all individuals and communities have the necessary information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy” (National Digital Inclusive Alliance).
This means not only providing the necessary technological equipment but also the tools that allow people to grow in their digital literacy, or their ability to navigate the online environment in an appropriate manner. The best way to achieve this is to change the infrastructure of the existing online organizations to focus on fostering social and digital inclusion through better online communication and collaboration (Radovanovic, 2011). This includes building digital literacy in individuals so that they may be active participants in the digital world that understand how to navigate, understand, evaluate, and create online content.