Examining the Digital Divide

Ever since technology there has been the growing problem of the digital divide. Very simply put by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the digital divide is “the economic, educational, and social inequalities between those who have computers and online access and those who do not.” The digital divide is a matter of the gap between those who have easy access to technology to use and those who have a harder time accessing technology and reaping the benefits from using it. It’s not an issue that’s only found in one country, but it’s found worldwide even in first world countries like the United States. It’s a gap very similar to the gap between the rich and poor as those who do not have money will not have the money to purchase technology like those who have more money to spend and are able to spend more to obtain their own personal devices.

In relation to the digital divide, there is the term digital equity. The definition provided by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance is as follows:

Digital Equity is a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy. Digital Equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services.

Digital equity is the ideal word where everyone has access to technology allowing them to fully engage in society which is the end goal of closing the digital divide. It’s an important goal for the world to achieve as it would mean that society can benefit in so many more ways as people who previously were not able to as easily access the internet are able to help contribute.

In an effort to achieve digital equity by closing the digital divide, the Digital Equity Act was first introduced in 2019 as it recognized the lack of skills and access some people had when it came to technology. The Act’s goal is to close the digital divide by helping projects and groups trying to end the digital divide with support and funding as a government level. A statement by Patty Murray, a Washington Senator addressed the digital divide in the United States:

For so many of us, having a reliable broadband connection is a given — we use the internet to pay bills, do our taxes, keep in touch with family, do homework, and much more. … For far too many in Washington state and across the country getting online isn’t so easy to do. This can prevent people from applying for jobs, learning new skills, signing up for health care, accessing unemployment benefits, and more. That’s the digital divide.

Statistics such as these from the Pew Research Center proves how the digital divide has been growing over the years with only 12% of adults in 2013 with less than $30k annual income reporting they have a smartphone but no broadband at home compared to 27% now in 2021. The 15% increase in less than 10 years shows how the need to close the digital divide continues to grow, but with the government recognizing the digital divide, it becomes a little easier to provide support those who are suffering from the negative effects of the lack of access to technology such as those that Senator Murray pointed out.

If we are able to achieve digital equity, issues like students not being able to complete homework due to a lack of internet access, adults not being able to apply for jobs without a sufficient device to complete the application, and people struggling to obtain the digital skills necessary to actively participate in society today would no longer be as prominent of an problem. It will still take time and effort to reach, but with the proper support digital equity should be able to be reached.