Digitalisation has long since taken hold of the world, and today it continues to advance at breakneck speed along unpredictable paths. However, not everyone has embraced digitalisation in the same way. This is what we call the digital divide: the contrast between those who know how to use modern technology and those who have been left behind. Most of those who fall behind do not do so of their own accord, but because of a series of circumstances.
These circumstances are of a demographic, economic, cultural and geographical. This disparity has a very negative impact on those on the disadvantaged side of the digital divide, as it prevents them from acquiring the digital skills that the world and progress demand of them. By extension, the lack of digital literacy This isolates these groups from the wider world and significantly limits their employment opportunities. Today, many non-profit organisations, governments and public bodies are striving to bridge the digital divide and regard it as a top priority.
Causes of the digital divide
As we have said, the digital divide exists for a number of structural reasons, and we can therefore identify the following factors that contribute to it:
By accessibility and geography
We can refer to this disparity as the geographical digital divide. It refers to the inequality in access to the internet and new technologies depending on people’s geographical location or the area in which they live. Within this geographical divide, we distinguish the global digital divide, which refers to differences in internet access between countries or economic blocs.
For example, countries such as South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic have the lowest internet usage rates (less than 10% of the population). On the other hand, 80% of the population in almost all European countries have used the Internet.
However, the geographical digital divide encompasses not only macro-level inequalities, but also those on a smaller scale. For example, more rural areas have less access to the internet than cities. This is mainly because the terrain and the lack of investment make it difficult to build the infrastructure needed to connect homes in villages to the grid.
By age
Whilst it is true that the digital divide has been narrowing by leaps and bounds in recent years, even amongst older people, there is still a significant proportion of older people who do not use the Internet, mainly because they do not know how to deal with it. According to the UDP (Democratic Union of Pensioners) Barometer, 40% of people aged over 65 in Spain hardly ever used the internet.
We must bear in mind that these people have spent much of their lives outside the digital world, so they have not developed a technological intuition, as younger people have. This requires a substantial cognitive and adaptive effort which, in many cases, they are not prepared to make. Whilst older people can live “well” without the internet, they may encounter certain obstacles when carrying out administrative tasks with banks or public authorities, which are increasingly digitising their procedures. For example, an elderly person may find it difficult to book an appointment with their GP online or to withdraw their monthly pension from an ATM.
Economy
Although these days paying for an internet connection is not a huge expense and there are options to suit all budgets, There are still many families who cannot afford a monthly internet bill or to buy technological devices such as a computer or a smartphone. In many cases, these people have limited access to the internet or have to connect to public Wi-Fi networks. The fact is that if we are given the choice between food and technology, people would rather survive.
This economic digital divide also has an impact on training, especially for the youngest children. Teachers are increasingly setting homework that requires an internet connection at home and a computer. For pupils who do not have access to these resources, completing this homework can be very difficult.
Gender digital divide
We can say that the gender digital divide is the difference in internet usage by sex, that is, between men and women. In general, the percentages of internet usage amongst young people are almost identical for both sexes, so we could conclude that the gender digital divide amongst young people is virtually non-existent in this respect. However, statistical disparities by sex are observed amongst older people.
However, when we talk about the gender digital divide, we are also referring to the low representation of women in the ICT sector. This one is certainly more pronounced: 19% of staff in the technology sector are women. Some people point to structural discrimination as the reason for this gap, whilst others cite many women’s lack of intrinsic interest in programming. The reasons behind the gender digital divide are a matter of debate.
Strategies for bridging the digital divide
Bridging the digital divide is no trivial matter; rather, it is a multi-faceted problem that must be tackled from various angles. Private companies, as well as national and local governments, must all play their part in tackling it, taking into account measures such as the following:
Affordable internet access
One of the main barriers to bridging the digital divide is to reduce the cost of internet access. Policies must be put in place to provide citizens with a high-quality internet service so that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can get online.
This means that public and private bodies must build the appropriate telecommunications infrastructure and introduce regulatory measures that promote competition amongst operators, thereby reducing prices for consumers.
Investment in infrastructure
As we have been saying, it is essential to improve telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in rural and remote areas. To this end, broadband network coverage must be expanded and population centres provided with high-speed wireless access.
Inclusive digital education
All primary and secondary schools must include digital literacy programmes to teach basic technology skills to people of all ages, including children, older people and people with disabilities.
These pills to help you gain digital skills They are generally incorporated into all subjects. It is in this way that pupils learn to use a computer, browse the internet safely and make the most of the digital tools available.
Affordable and accessible devices
It is not enough to have internet access if people do not have the necessary devices to connect. The public sector can introduce subsidy or loan schemes to enable people on low incomes to buy devices such as laptops, tablets or smartphones.
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