Freely translated from an article in Italian written by Elisabetta Bracci.
Original content at: https://www.jumpfacility.com/blog/digital-divide-covid
All credits related to the content go to Elisabetta Bracci.
(English Version)
This is a personal translation of the article published by the blog of Jump Facility and written by Elisabetta Bracci (https://www.jumpfacility.com/blog), all credit go to her.
What’s the “digital divide”?
The digital divide is the digital divide between those who have effective access to technologies, in particular personal computers and the internet, and those who are partially or totally excluded. Lack of access to technologies leads to a wide disparity in the acquisition of the resources and skills needed to participate in the information society, as these conditions thus prevent people from accessing many public services, such as essential health information, as governments increasingly rely on online resources. The digital divide is therefore an indicator of digital exclusion and discrimination and is used to refer both to people and social groups and to regions and states globally.
The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly strengthened and exacerbated the digital divide: let us remember that until February 2020, 69% of the world’s population had no access to the Internet. Let’s see in detail cause and effect according to the latest research of the Capgemini Research Institute entitled “The Great Digital Divide: Why bringing the digitally excluded online should be a global priority”. This study stresses the urgency of bridging the gap between the online and offline population, seen as a priority of public and private organizations.
Causes of Digital Divide
The causes of the digital divide are mainly related to 4 factors.
Factor 1: INCOME
Almost 40% of the offline population living in poverty have never used the internet because of the prohibitive cost.
Factor 2: LEVEL OF EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE
65% of the offline population sample reports complexity of internet use and “lack of interest” linked to a feeling of fear as main causes of lack of online access.
Factor 3: AGE
- 45% of the offline population between 20 and 36 years old would like to be able to make video calls over the internet.
- 32% of the offline population between 53 and 71 years old would like to manage their finances online
Factor 4: GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGIN
Geographical origin is to be understood both as the level of infrastructure in one’s own country and as belonging to certain ethnic groups. 47% of the offline population lives in rural areas. Of the 3.8 billion people offline in the world, women, African countries and rural communities are particularly affected.
Effects of digital divide
The digital divide includes complex issues involving all aspects of community life: economic, cultural and social. The main effects of the digital divide are linked to social exclusion and lack of access to public services. In particular:
- sense of loneliness and isolation: 46% of offline respondents said that internet access would allow them to feel more connected with friends and family.
- inaccessibility to online practices: 34% of respondents expressed interest in using the internet to apply for public subsidies (e.g. for housing and food) and only 19% of the offline population applied for a public subsidy in the last year.
- inability to perform remote work.
- inability to receive just-in-time information.
A glimpse of hope
Alessandra Miata, HR Director and CSR Head of Capgemini Business Unit Italy states that “COVID-19 is likely to have a lasting impact on access to public services and attitudes towards opportunities such as remote working, so companies working to overcome the digital divide and create long-term change and not a temporary solution have a collective responsibility […] “In the wake of this pandemic, we expect the digital divide to be bridged”.
All credit for contents to Elisabetta Bracci.
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