Digitalization and globalization go hand in hand.
Digital technologies are increasingly essential for participation in the global economy, travel, education, and more. Despite the widespread adoption of all things digital, not everyone has equal access and opportunity. These differences create divides that are often made more pronounced by existing inequalities based on gender, race, class, language, culture, and more.
Digital divides show up everywhere. People have vastly different experiences. Key variables include affordability and access to smartphones and computers, digital literacy, and whether or not online information is available in one’s own language.
Bridging these digital divides requires eliminating barriers of access and affordability to create more inclusive digital spaces. In this session we will address the root causes of digital divides and look at ways to overcome them. Together we can foster greater digital equity.
Keywords
Outcomes
After this session you will be able to:
- Understand what digital divides are and how they impact digital justice.
- Explain different kinds of digital divides and how they relate to each other.
- Take steps to identify and bridge digital divides in your own life and work.
Definitions
Digital Divides
Digital divides are disparities in access to and usage of digital technologies among different groups of people, based on factors such as socioeconomic status, geographic location, gender, race, and education level. Addressing digital divides is essential for promoting digital justice and ensuring equitable opportunities for everyone. For example, in low- and middle-income countries, women are 20% less likely than men to use mobile internet. This gap translates to 300 million fewer women using mobile internet. (Source: Maryville University Online, a branch of Maryville University, a private institute of higher education in the United States.)
Globalization
Digitalization is a powerful catalyst for increasing interdependence of people, cultures, and countries. This includes the growing exchange of goods, services, and ideas. Digital technologies accelerate this exchange, giving rise to both opportunities and challenges. People can benefit from new employment opportunities, learn more about other parts of the world, and access new economic markets. Drawbacks, however, can be significant, including destruction of local cultures and languages, and unsustainable consumerism. For example, approximately 12% of the global goods trade is now conducted via e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Alibaba. (Source: McKinsey Global Institute. McKinsey & Company is a global management consulting firm that provides advisory services to businesses, governments, and institutions.)
Power
Digital technologies are powerful. They give the people who control them significant political, economic, and military influence. This power influences who has access to digital technologies, who benefits (and suffers) from them, and who is excluded. Gaining control over our digital lives and fully participating in digital spaces is essential for overcoming digital divides in a global society. For instance, Google handles over 90% of global search queries, and Facebook (Meta) has nearly three billion monthly active users. (Source: AI Now Institute, a research organization based at New York University, focused on studying the social implications of AI).
Accessibility
Not all digital technologies are created equal. Digital technologies can aid access to information and help people overcome all kinds of barriers in communication. But the reality is that most services, devices, and platforms come with significant accessibility barriers. Simply navigating the web can be difficult with the poor performance of screen readers, low-contrast colours and visuals, complex language and navigation, and so on. English dominates digital content at the expense of most other languages. And digital services and platforms may not always be accessible on older devices, or compatible across providers. Financial barriers or lack of adequate infrastructure also limits who can participate in digital spaces and how. For example, in Africa, only 28.2% of the population has internet access, compared to 85.2% in Europe. (Source International Telecommunications Union, a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for issues related to information and communication technologies.)
Affordability
Many people around the world struggle to afford basic digital devices and related technologies. High costs relative to a person’s income can create barriers for already marginalized groups online. Improving affordability involves subsidizing or reducing the cost of digital infrastructure, devices, and internet services to ensure equitable access for all. In many parts of the world, the cost of internet services is prohibitively high. In some developing countries, the price of 1GB of mobile data can be as much as 7 to 8% of the average monthly income, compared to less than 1% in developed countries. (Source: The Alliance for Affordable Internet, or A4AI, a global coalition working to make broadband access affordable for everyone.)
Onward
You’re doing well taking on the big issues related to digital divides. You now know about some of the biggest factors involved in creating and sustaining digital inequities. Now it’s time to go a bit deeper. Click the button below to move to the next part of this session. There you will learn from experts from around the world and go deeper with a case study.