The Cost of Progress

-

 The future is now.

Every day, it seems there are new technological advancements. A device to have, a software update, a beta test. Our world is in a sort of second industrial revolution with technology. It certainly is a digital age.

While the idea of a technology-powered future might seem exciting or glamorous, we should consider the other side of the story.

If you're anything like me, you might relate to not always having the shiny new technology. My car doesn't have Bluetooth built in, my phone is not the latest model, and my AirPods are an old generation that only work in the right ear. I don't have all the new tech. However, I still have a lot of tech. I use the Apple suite for everything, I have AirPods and not corded headphones, and I have internet access at home.  Yes, I experience some limitations, I'm a college student after all. But there are people all around who are truly living off-grid, and not by choice.

The idea of the digital divide is the gap between the modern pace of a technology-driven society and individuals who cannot access or obtain the means to participate in this society. There are so many people who do not have personal devices or home internet. This happens for a variety of reasons, with some major ones being finances, location, and digital literacy.

Finances are a major factor perpetuating the digital divide. Most tech does not come cheap. I think about what I need to write this blog: how much my computer costs, the internet I use to post it, and my phone that I use to promote this blog through social media. Even the readers who are accessing this through a phone, tablet, or computer and reading it over the internet. Some individuals would not be able to write or read a blog, simply because they could not afford the device or connection necessary.

Location also plays a role in the digital divide. Many rural areas face issues in connection with a digital society. It is simply harder to have a good connection in digital areas, especially in homes where individuals are responsible for their connection, rather than in big areas like schools and businesses. Why should entire town populations be left behind because they can't get connected?

Finally, digital literacy hinders people from engaging with technology. People who are mentally or physically handicapped have a harder time interacting with technology like most. While there are some adaptive features, this area has room for improvement. Entire generations are being left behind because they are not learning technology as fast as it advances. I can think of my own grandparents, who sometimes have difficulty navigating their devices because the world is so much different than when they were in college.

There are many problems to discuss concerning the digital divide, but the idea I would like to explore today is the potential we are missing out on. I would wager that people who are affected by the digital divide could be individuals with valuable thoughts, skills, ideas, and innovations for our world, but they simply do not have the opportunity to participate in the conversation. A main role of this blog is to facilitate conversation on a platform. What about those who are not able to add to the topic, because they could not access this blog if they wanted to? It is sad to me that brilliant people do not have the chance to shine because of the digital divide.

So what should we do? I personally think there are areas for improvement in public programs and facilities. Internet cafes certainly had their moment, but I think they might still be a cornerstone for individuals who are unable to access wifi. Computer labs in public libraries should be updated past the 1990s and offer those who cannot afford their own devices a way to connect with the digital world. And public programs should identify areas with a high percentage of individuals impacted by the digital divide and offer support.

These are big ideas, and certainly cannot happen in one fell swoop. But I am curious: what do you think? How can we improve the digital divide? How can we allow brilliant minds to join the conversation?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Crowdsourcing and Social Media

-
Today, I want to discuss crowdsourcing and social media by, well, tapping into the crowd of this blog. Hero X defines social media crowdsourcing as "leveraging social media platforms to solicit ideas or feedback from a large audience," which brings many questions about crowdsourcing to mind. The first being, " Has crowdsourcing become standard practice in the world of social media, particularly with influencers? " Consider a normal scroll through your Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok feed: how many times does an influencer ask which option they should choose for their next challenge, outfit, or even their meal. They post and await enough responses to share that they went with the majority outfit for the rest of their day. What is so unique about this? Once, crowdsourcing was somewhat exclusive to companies and researchers. In the same article, Hero X references Coca-Cola using crowdsourcing to determine their new flavor of soda by talking to their customer base on Tw...
Read more

Let's Get Down To Business

-
Social media may have started as a way for Average Joe and Ordinary Jane to share their lives, post pictures of their kids and cats, document family trips, wish grandma a happy birthday, and play words with friends. But now, it is one of the most powerful business tools at a marketing team's fingertips. The reality is that most everyone is on social media. People who businesses want to reach are scrolling on their phones daily. It has become culturally normal: much like reading the paper was once the way to unwind, social media has replaced it as a new leisurely pastime. Tell me—why are businesses still paying for their ad to have a slot in the local paper when they could be reaching a far wider audience for less expense by pushing out the same advertisement on social media? We are in a digital age, and businesses should take advantage of it! In fact, many businesses already are. One account I would like to focus on today is Chipotle's Instagram. In short, they know their audie...
Read more

Politics: Everyone's Favorite Dinner Time Conversation Topic

-
 Today, we're talking about politics. If you're like me, you're squirming in your seat right now—possibly hesitant to scroll. You might be wondering if you should be prepared to roll your eyes and quietly find another blog or gear up to defend your opinions. Hopefully, you will be pleasantly surprised that this is the easiest political conversation you've ever had. Today, we're going to discuss social media's impact on political conversations, looking at where we've fallen short and how to improve while moving forward. Like many topics relating to social media, the effect is in the hands of the user. Some use social media to responsibly engage with the political world. Others, however, might be perpetuating and contributing to widespread issues. One issue is bias created by social media engagement. People tend to follow creators they like who produce content they enjoy. This seeps into the way we interact with political content. However, this leads to bias c...
Read more