Digital inclusion

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Digital inclusion involves the activities necessary to ensure equitable access to and use of information and communication technologies for participation in social and economic life including for education, social services, health, social and community participation. Digital inclusion includes access to affordable broadband Internet services, Internet-enabled devices, access to digital literacy training, quality technical support, and applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration. Related concepts include digital divide, digital exclusion and digital inequality however digital inclusion focuses more on the strategies, policies and programs required to address the digital divide. [1]

Contents

As many services have moved online and with the increasing use of telehealth to deliver primary care, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, digital inclusion, including digital literacy and internet access is increasingly regarded as a social determinant of health. [2]

Background

With the increasing use of computers and the Internet in the 1990s and early 2000s concerns rose around digital equality, however this primarily focused on the physical access to technology. [1] This gave rise to the concept of the digital divide which was originally developed to describe the growing disparity in Internet access between rural and urban areas of the United States of America. This gradually expanded to considerations of digital access between countries in what is termed the global digital divide, which mirrors many of the disparities seen within countries but on an international scale. However with the adoption of digital technologies across most sectors of society, and the increasing diversity of technologies and programs, access and use of ICT became more complex and essential for many aspects of daily life. This led to new terminology and a second wave of research on digital inequality which has been identified as the (1) usage gap, (2) second level digital divide, (3) emerging digital differentiation, and (4) digital inclusion. [3]

Strategies for digital inclusion

A review of the literature in 2019 found that while physical access to digital technologies and the internet continues to be a barrier to digital inclusion, digital ability and attitude were also potential barriers. [4] Key strategies identified for improving digital inclusion are social support, direct user experience and collaborative learning/design. [4]

Education is a key aspect of digital inclusion as digital technologies have become a key means of engaging with all levels of the education system, requiring levels of digital competence for successful engagement with the curriculum. [5] In addition lifelong learning is required as technologies, services and systems are changing constantly. Public libraries and community service providers play a key role in supporting digital inclusion through access to computers, internet connection and expertise and training. [6] Designing for digital inclusion may also help with poor written literacy, which remains a barrier for 10% of the world's population. UNESCO has developed Guidelines for designing digital technologies in ways that could assist those who are illiterate. [7]

Indigenous digital inclusion

Digital inclusion is a critical issue for many Indigenous communities across the globe, many of whom lack access to adequate resources. [8]

The Australian Government has set a National Closing the Gap target for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have equal levels of digital inclusion by 2026. [9]

Measuring digital inclusion

The Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) is a research project which has been tracking digital inclusion throughout Australia since 2016. It uses survey data to measure digital inclusion across three dimensions of access, affordability and digital ability. [10]

The Future of Digital Inclusion

On February 16, 2021, a global dialogue within the United Nations (UN) took a look at the future of digital inclusion. Through the adoption of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, Member States made a commitment. They pledged to "leave no one behind." [11]

By 2030, the UN's goal is to close the digital divide by providing access to the Internet and mobile technologies for all nations and peoples and for all segments of society.

The UN sees the crisis of too many people in our global society still living unconnected and how the digital divide remains a challenge that must be addressed.

Digital inclusion advocacy groups

Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance

National Digital Inclusion Alliance (US)

Related Research Articles

The digital divide is the unequal access to digital technology, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and the internet. The digital divide creates a division and inequality around access to information and resources. In the Information Age in which information and communication technologies (ICTs) have eclipsed manufacturing technologies as the basis for world economies and social connectivity, people without access to the Internet and other ICTs are at a socio-economic disadvantage, for they are unable or less able to find and apply for jobs, shop and learn.

The global digital divide describes global disparities, primarily between developed and developing countries, in regards to access to computing and information resources such as the Internet and the opportunities derived from such access.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Information and communications technology</span> Extensional term for information technology

Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications and computers, as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage and audiovisual, that enable users to access, store, transmit, understand and manipulate information.

Health equity arises from access to the social determinants of health, specifically from wealth, power and prestige. Individuals who have consistently been deprived of these three determinants are significantly disadvantaged from health inequities, and face worse health outcomes than those who are able to access certain resources. It is not equity to simply provide every individual with the same resources; that would be equality. In order to achieve health equity, resources must be allocated based on an individual need-based principle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital rhetoric</span> Forms of communication via digital mediums

Digital rhetoric can be generally defined as communication that exists in the digital sphere. As such, digital rhetoric can be expressed in many different forms, including text, images, videos, and software. Due to the increasingly mediated nature of our contemporary society, there are no longer clear distinctions between digital and non-digital environments. This has expanded the scope of digital rhetoric to account for the increased fluidity with which humans interact with technology.

Digital literacy is an individual's ability to find, evaluate, and communicate information using typing or digital media platforms. It is a combination of both technical and cognitive abilities in using information and communication technologies to create, evaluate, and share information.

The knowledge divide is the gap between those who can find, create, manage, process, and disseminate information or knowledge, and those who are impaired in this process. According to a 2005 UNESCO World Report, the rise in the 21st century of a global information society has resulted in the emergence of knowledge as a valuable resource, increasingly determining who has access to power and profit. The rapid dissemination of information on a potentially global scale as a result of new information media and the globally uneven ability to assimilate knowledge and information has resulted in potentially expanding gaps in knowledge between individuals and nations. The digital divide is an extension of the knowledge divide, dividing people who have access to the internet and those who do not. The knowledge divide also represents the inequalities of knowledge among different identities, including but not limited to race, economic status, and gender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inclusion (disability rights)</span>

Inclusion, in relation to persons with disabilities, is defined as including individuals with disabilities in everyday activities and ensuring they have access to resources and opportunities in ways that are similar to their non-disabled peers. Disability rights advocates define true inclusion as results-oriented, rather than focused merely on encouragement. To this end, communities, businesses, and other groups and organizations are considered inclusive if people with disabilities do not face barriers to participation and have equal access to opportunities and resources.

Financial inclusion is the availability and equality of opportunities to access financial services. It refers to a process by which individuals and businesses can access appropriate, affordable, and timely financial products and services which include banking, loan, equity, and insurance products.It is a path to enhance inclusiveness in economic growth by enabling the unbanked population to access the means for savings, investment, and insurance towards improving household income and reducing income inequality

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital citizen</span> Person using IT to engage in society, politics, and government

The term digital citizen is used with different meanings. According to the definition provided by Karen Mossberger, one of the authors of Digital Citizenship: The Internet, Society, and Participation, digital citizens are "those who use the internet regularly and effectively." In this sense, a digital citizen is a person using information technology (IT) in order to engage in society, politics, and government.

The digital divide in the United States refers to inequalities between individuals, households, and other groups of different demographic and socioeconomic levels in access to information and communication technologies ("ICTs") and in the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use the information gained from connecting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's empowerment</span> Giving rights, freedom to make decisions and strengthening women to stand on their own

Women's empowerment may be defined in several ways, including accepting women's viewpoints, making an effort to seek them and raising the status of women through education, awareness, literacy, and training. Women's empowerment equips and allows women to make life-determining decisions through the different societal problems. They may have the opportunity to re-define gender roles or other such roles, which allow them more freedom to pursue desired goals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital divide in Canada</span> Overview of the role of the digital divide in Canada

The digital divide in Canada refers to the discrepancy that exists between Canadians who have access to information and communication technologies (ICT) and the benefits they provide compared to those who do not. This divide can be the result of many factors, including high costs for technology and online access, differences in the availability of online connectivity resources in different locations across the country, and lacking digital literacy. The digital divide in Canada also stems from income inequality among Canadians and differences in online practices exhibited by those of different age, gender, first language, and cultural background.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital divide in Nigeria</span> Internet divide for communication technology

The digital divide is a term used to describe the disadvantage in access to information which people without access to ICT suffer. Nigeria's digital divide refers to the inequality of Nigerian individuals, groups, or organizations with regard to access to Information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure or to the internet for daily activities. The digital divide has been attributed to many factors among which is the high cost of computer equipment, lack of ICT skill and poor knowledge of available search engines. Lack of access to ICT makes it difficult for people to access information. The benefits of having access to ICT are numerous. ICT has the potential to promote other sectors of the economy such as agriculture, education, health, bank, defence etc. In times of emergency, ICT becomes an indispensable tool for overcoming the barriers of time and distance. Education, lack of electrical infrastructure, income, urban drift, and a variety of other social and political factors contribute to Nigeria's growing digital divide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital divide by continent, area and country</span>

The digital divide is an economic and social inequality with regard to access to, use of, or impact of information and communication technologies (ICT). Factors causing the divide can vary depending on the country and culture, as can the potential solutions for minimizing or closing the divide.

Gender digital divide is defined as gender biases coded into technology products, technology sector, and digital skills education. It can refer to women's lack of access to, use of, and professional development in computing work. The gender digital divide has changed throughout history due to social roles, economics, and educational opportunities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport divide</span> Unequal access to transport

Transport divide refers to unequal access to transportation. It can result in the social exclusion of disadvantaged groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable Development Goal 4</span> 4th of 17 Sustainable Development Goals to achieve quality education for all

Sustainable Development Goal 4 is about quality education and is among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in September 2015. The full title of SDG 4 is "Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all".

The data divide is the unequal relationship between those capable of collecting, storing, mining, and general management of immense volumes of data, and those whose data is collected. Using the framework of the digital divide, the data divide posits that the evolving nature of data and big data has created divisions and inequalities in data ownership, access, analysis, collection, and the manipulation of personal data generated by information and communications technologies (ICTs).

Jennifer Anne Schradie is an American-French digital sociologist who is an assistant professor of sociology at Observatoire sociologique du changement (OSC) at Sciences Po in Paris, France where her research and teaching focuses on digital activism, digital labor, online participation, and the digital divide. Her work has become influential in academic circles while she has also become a high-profile public commentator on digital issues. Her notable work includes the book published in 2019,The Revolution That Wasn't: How Digital Activism Favors Conservatives. Prior to her academic career, Schradie was a documentary filmmaker and community organizer.

References

  1. 1 2 Wilson, Chris K.; Thomas, Julian; Barraket, Jo (2019-06-30). "Measuring Digital Inequality in Australia: the Australian Digital Inclusion Index". Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy. 7 (2): 102–120. doi: 10.18080/jtde.v7n2.187 . ISSN   2203-1693. S2CID   201305031.
  2. ↑ Sieck, Cynthia J.; Sheon, Amy; Ancker, Jessica S.; Castek, Jill; Callahan, Bill; Siefer, Angela (2021). "Digital inclusion as a social determinant of health". npj Digital Medicine. 4 (1): 52. doi:10.1038/s41746-021-00413-8. ISSN   2398-6352. PMC   7969595 . PMID   33731887.
  3. ↑ Nemer, David (2015). "From Digital Divide to Digital Inclusion and Beyond". The Journal of Community Informatics. 11 (1). doi: 10.15353/joci.v11i1.2857 . ISSN   1712-4441.
  4. 1 2 Borg, Kim; Boulet, Mark; Smith, Liam; Bragge, Peter (2019-09-19). "Digital Inclusion & Health Communication: A Rapid Review of Literature". Health Communication. 34 (11): 1320–1328. doi:10.1080/10410236.2018.1485077. ISSN   1041-0236. PMID   29889560. S2CID   48357756.
  5. ↑ Hatlevik, Ove Edvard; Christophersen, Knut-Andreas (2013-04-01). "Digital competence at the beginning of upper secondary school: Identifying factors explaining digital inclusion". Computers & Education. 63: 240–247. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2012.11.015. ISSN   0360-1315.
  6. ↑ Bertot, John Carlo (2016). "Building Digitally Inclusive Communities". Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance. New York, NY, USA: Association for Computing Machinery. pp. 95–102. doi:10.1145/2910019.2910082. ISBN   978-1-4503-3640-6. S2CID   9590149.
  7. ↑ Vosloo, Steve (2018). "Designing inclusive digital solutions and developing digital skills: guidelines". UNESCO. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  8. ↑ Telecommunication Development Sector (30 Mar 2022). "Digital inclusion of indigenous peoples". ITU | Committed to connecting the world. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02.
  9. ↑ "Closing the Gap targets and outcomes | Closing the Gap". www.closingthegap.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  10. ↑ Thomas, Julian; Barraket, Jo; Parkinson, Sharon; Wilson, Chris K.; Holcombe-James, Indigo; Kennedy, Jenny; Mannell, Kate; Brydon, Abigail (2021-10-15). "Measuring Australia's digital divide: the Australian digital inclusion index 2021". RMIT University, Swinburne University and Telstra. doi:10.25916/phgw-b725.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ↑ "Digital Inclusion for All: Shaping our Digital Future" (PDF). United Nations. February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
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