The Digital Divide
I think that the inequalities concerning internet access today is one of the most important issues in our societies as they can lead to social exclusion. I agree with what have been stated on Monday during the seminar that every one should be able to make one’s own decision about using the internet or not. One of the problem is that there are some areas in the world (and even in some parts of UK or France) where internet is not accessable. But another problem is that today not being able to use internet can also create inequalities concerning people’s opportunities and chances in life. For example, my grand-parents do not have internet neither a computer because they chose not to have it. It is possible for them because one of their son lives 10 minutes away and so they can ask him when they need to use the internet. The problem is that, today, lots of services are digitalised and people who do not have internet will be more and more socially excluded. Last year, as I was unemployed for few months, I went to the French Job Center to ask about my rights and noticed that a lot of administration work had to be done online. Of course, for me and most of the people I find it easier to have this kind of services online because it is accessible everywhere and whenever you need it. The problem is that for some people, even if they can have access to the devices needed for such services, they might not have the basic skills to use them. This is well demonstrated by Warschauer (2003) in his introduction when he gives the example of the “Hole-in-the-Wall” experiment in India and the “Information Age Town” competition in Ireland. These examples show that, of course, one of the key requirement for internet acces is to have the appropriate technological devices, but is also necessary to be informed and trained about the how to use such devices and the internet.
Bibliography
Warschauer, M. (2003) Technology and Social Exclusion: Rethinking the Digital Divide. London: MIT Press.