How Does the Digital Divide Affect Low-Income Communities?

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Introduction

When first introduced in the second half of the 20th century, personal computers were expensive and of interest mostly for business users. However, Moores law has been proving itself accurate and today computing is cheap. Despite economic advancements and unprecedented increases in global GDP, only half of the worldwide population has constant access to the internet. This observation suggests that although the cost of owning a computer decreased, the digital divide phenomenon has not diminished. The digital divide is a complex topic and encompasses many interrelated areas, such as the distribution of wealth and poverty. In addition, the digital divide is facilitated by several types of gaps, including gender, racial, and economic inequalities. To limit the scope of the discussion, this paper will focus on the impact of the digital divide on low-income communities.

What is Digital Divide?

The digital divide is similar to the uneven distribution of wealth, but instead of focusing on financial capital, it is comprised of access to information technology and the internet. Although it is tempting to suggest that the internet is ubiquitous and all people in the world have constant access to it, statistics propose the opposite. For instance, only 76% of the U.S. population has continuous access to the internet, despite the country being a global leader in information technology (Our World in Data, 2017). This number reaches 90% only in several countries around the globe, namely Sweden, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, Andorra, Iceland, and Switzerland (Our World in Data, 2017). The average income in these countries is higher than in the rest of the world, which suggests that income is among the primary determinants of the digital divide (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, 2017). In the majority of Asian and African countries, internet access is negligible the number in some nations is as low as 4% (Our World in Data, 2017). As the divide is facilitated by income gaps, it is essential to explore the impact on low-income communities.

Impact on Low-Income Communities

Issues with Social Participation

People that are deprived of the opportunity to leverage contemporary information and communications technology (ICT) have fewer options regarding the social activity. Modern computer tools allow individuals to communicate with each other on distance and to be informed with the latest news. Social networks provide alternative and more effective ways of sharing personal opinions in the countrys political life (Van Dijk, 2017). Low-income households that cannot afford computers and smartphones are less likely to benefit from these possibilities. In turn, they take less participation in social interactions and have no voice when it comes to making political decisions (Scheerder et al., 2017). Therefore, politicians may make settlements that neglect the actual needs of low-income communities. Communication is vital for both politics and social activity, and the digital divide deprives low-income households of this information exchange.

Less Access to eHealth Resources

The digital divide indirectly leads to unfavorable health outcomes among low-income communities. Healthcare institutions have attempted to address the issue of the underserved population by means of eHealth services (Chesser et al., 2016). However, the notion of being underserved generally relates to living in rural areas (Chesser et al., 2016). While individuals living in villages and provincial regions may attain some computer equipment to access the internet if they have the necessary funds, low-income households do not have the financial means to make such purchases. Therefore, eHealth services are useful only for people with enough income to afford a computer and a stable internet connection. As a result, low-income communities have less access to health-related information that might be crucial for their well-being. The issue has become even more severe due to the recent pandemic (Beaunoyer et al., 2020). Social distancing and stay-at-home policies make the dispersal of health-related information possible only through online instruments. This situation is disadvantageous for low-income communities as they may be deprived of information that can save their lives.

Hindrance to Online Education

One of the most substantial and most critical contributions of ICT is the prospects of distance learning. Today, it is possible to acquire a new skill or attend a school sitting from home. ICT also created new jobs, the majority of which are high-paid. The absence of access to online resources deprives low-income families from the opportunity to learn new skills to foster their lives (Pagani et al., 2016). Technology skills are crucial in the contemporary economy, and it is not possible to learn technology without having access to it (Pagani et al., 2016). Programming skills that are valued throughout the world are not expensive to acquire due to a high number of free resources online. However, it is essential to have access to a computer and a stable internet. ICT and education have become more intervened due to the COVID-19 virus. Many of the schools have switched to online learning, which means that children with no computers or smartphones cannot continue their studies. Therefore, it is evident that the digital divide increases the literacy gap between low-income and high-income communities.

Contribution to Cycle of Poverty

Childhood poverty is likely to result in financial hardships during adulthood. Quality education is considered to be the enabling factor in this context, which allows individuals to end the cycle of poverty. Historical data suggests that income inequality can be addressed by improving overall education levels (Lin et al., 2017). As mentioned, online tools have become significant instruments in providing educational services. Lacking access to these resources will deteriorate the education level among low-income communities, which will contribute to the cycle of poverty. It means that the disadvantaged will maintain their unfavorable conditions until direct external intervention is proposed and executed. Lin et al. (2017) say that the digital divide is among the significant factors leading to an increase in the income gap in low-income countries. In high-income nations, the issue may not have the same magnitude, but it, nevertheless, exists.

Conclusion

Digital divide results in an unequal distribution of many social and health-related services. A recent global switch to online education has shown that vulnerable communities will be in disadvantageous positions. Lack of computers and stable internet access may result in poor academic performance among children, which will affect their career opportunities. This chain of reactions suggests that the digital divide contributes significantly to the cycle of poverty when it is passed from one generation to another. The presence of this issue amid the global economic development is a sign of the systemic problems related to the distribution of wealth. Governments need to address this issue comprehensively in order to mitigate its consequences on low-income households.

References

Beaunoyer, E., Dupéré, S., & Guitton, M. J. (2020). COVID-19 and digital inequalities: Reciprocal impacts and mitigation strategies. Computers in Human Behavior, 111.

Chesser, A., Burke, A., Reyes, J., & Rohrberg, T. (2016). Navigating the digital divide: A systematic review of eHealth literacy in underserved populations in the United States. Informatics for Health and Social Care, 41(1), 1-19.

Lin, C. H. A., Lin, H. S., & Hsu, C. P. (2017). Digital divide and income inequality: A spatial analysis. Review of Economics and Finance, 8, 31-43.

Our World in Data. Share of the population using the Internet, 2017 [Interactive map]. Web.

Pagani, L., Argentin, G., Gui, M., & Stanca, L. (2016). The impact of digital skills on educational outcomes: Evidence from performance tests. Educational studies, 42(2), 137-162.

Scheerder, A., van Deursen, A., & van Dijk, J. (2017). Determinants of Internet skills, uses and outcomes. A systematic review of the second-and third-level digital divide. Telematics and Informatics, 34(8), 1607-1624.

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. (2017). Gross average monthly wages by country and year.

Van Dijk, J. A. (2017). Digital divide: Impact of access. The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects, 1-11.

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