Why the Digital Divide Keeps Getting Wider
The digital divide is an economic, social, and technological gap between different demographics and sectors of society. The digital divide boils down to a lack of access to modern computing in some form or another. There are many factors that contribute to the digital divide; poverty, education, and poor infrastructures are just some of them.
The digital divide is also a source of inequalities that may take the form of discrimination on the basis of race, gender, or socioeconomic status. While the digital divide is often thought of as something which only plagues “poorer” nations, it’s also evident in developed nations with high levels of inequality. Silicon Valley “tech bros” don’t understand why someone would want offline modes while other areas feel like time capsules from years past for technology.
The digital divide isn’t a phenomenon which has disappeared with the advent of cheap, affordable broadband and cellular access in more and more places. Technology continues to grow and develop, and that progress just keeps moving the goalposts. There is still very much a digital divide and the gap continues to get wider and wider for both individuals and businesses. The only difference is what falls in the divide.
