The vast majority of careers in the 21st century require some level of technological literacy – whether it be a more simplistic knowledge of how to use a computer and Office apps, or more advanced competency in coding languages. As the world becomes progressively more digital, there is a growing opportunity gap in the world. This gap has been declared the “digital divide.”
What is the digital divide, really?
The concept of a digital divide can be traced back to the 1700s, when print media was becoming more common. The ethicality of print was questioned, because many poorer citizens were unable to access these forms of news and visualization. The overarching idea of a digital divide disproportionately affects people growing up in poverty, as you are less likely to be able to afford technological devices or advanced education in them.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of the digital divide on students became more apparent. Pew Research Center found that 59% of children in lower income areas had difficulty with the digital structure of assignments – public WiFi, bad WiFi, lack of computer access, etc.
What’s being done to combat this?
In South Bend, there is a program called “South Bend Code School” that works with low-income elementary schools to provide computer access and education to their students. Programs like these need to become widespread, because major school reform will be slow to come. Instead of waiting for the structure of funding to low-income schools to change, we must utilize simpler ways to combat this divide from growing stronger.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_divide
https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/digital-divide
https://www.joeducation.eu/what-is-the-digital-divide-and-how-to-reduce-it/
https://southbendcodeschool.com/
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