Digital Divide
The digital divide is the gap that exists between those who have access to the internet and reliable devices and those who don’t.
What is the Digital Divide
The digital divide is a problem that affects people from all walks of life. It is a multifaceted issue, but two main characteristics define this gap: access to high-speed internet and access to reliable devices. Many of the individuals who struggle from the digital divide face both.
In some areas, internet access is either limited, unavailable, or unaffordable for those who could be equipped. Even with a reliable internet connection, access to certain digital spaces can remain a challenge, always just out of reach for those who can’t afford costly tools like laptops and software.
This leaves countless students and professionals to rely on public computers or their mobile devices as their only tools to exist in an increasingly digital world. It leaves many more, like those in rural areas or living under the poverty line, without even that.
Definition of Digital Divide
Digital Divide Examples
K-12
In K-12 settings, a digital divide is commonly seen when students have limited or no internet access at home. Students from low-income families can also struggle to have devices like laptops or tablets which are often necessary tools, especially as STEAM education becomes a wider focus in K-12 curricula.
This causes a lot of problems for students at home as they can struggle with completing assignments and furthering their knowledge outside of classroom hours. This has only increased since the COVID-19 pandemic which has sent many students home to learn virtually.
College
In college, the digital divide looks similar to the way it exists in K-12 settings. Completing assignments, taking supplementary online classes, or even access to virtual tutoring becomes a daily challenge. An added issue is that limited access to reliable devices and high-speed internet negatively affects career-related prospects. Internships, mentorship programs, and networking are harder to manage when students face the digital divide.
Workplace
While the digital divide might not feel as obvious in traditional workplace settings, its effects start long before an individual takes a job. As with any of the significant opportunity gaps, those who experience the digital divide in earlier life can feel the effects well into their career.
It can limit their career options and opportunities for growth in certain industries. The digital divide often means the difference between an individual having the training and experience they need or missing the opportunity to hone their skills and further their education.
Why Closing the Digital Divide is Important
Equal learning opportunity
Education is an important foundation for the rest of our lives and by limiting the opportunities in early life, the playing field will never be truly even in higher education, the workplace, or our communities as a whole.
Wider career opportunities
As we’ve seen in recent years, remote work is a crucial part of a competitive economy. Giving professionals the opportunity to work remotely regardless of where they live is just one of the ways to help bridge the gap between competitive professional opportunities in urban and rural areas.
Access to community
Digital spaces are a crucial part of modern communities and have become a foundation for social, professional, and academic networks. Excluding individuals from these spaces means widening the network gap while leaving out important perspectives and cultures.
Digital Divide Statistics
10x less class engagement from low-income peers
Children from homes with an annual income of less than $25,000 are as much as 10 times less likely to engage with remote learning than children from higher-earning households.
42 million can’t purchase internet access in the U.S.
According to a 2020 study by BroadbandNow Research, an estimated 42 million Americans cannot purchase broadband internet due to financial, geographic, or service limitations.
1 in 4 students unable to access school online
In the U.S., approximately one in four students don’t have access to reliable devices or adequate internet connections. This means that between 15 to 16 million K-12 students aren’t able to access school regularly.
Digital Divide Resources
Morning Consult: The Digital Divide May Be News, But It’s Not New
Larry Irving, the administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, offers a wider scope of the digital divide by expanding on its long history and wide-reaching effects on modern society. Read more >
Pew Research: 53% of Americans Say the Internet Has Been Essential During the COVID-19 Outbreak
In this article from Pew Research, the importance of internet access is explored through the lens of how the COVID-19 outbreak has impacted the way we work, study, and socialize. Read more >
Portulans Institute: Dialogue on Digital Transformation
Portulans Institute has spent extensive time researching the digital transformation the world has undergone in recent decades. Since 2020, this has focused on the digital divide and the effect it has had on the efforts to build more inclusive economies and digital opportunities. Read more >
How to Close the Digital Divide
Volunteer your time
A great way to help bridge the digital divide is to look for opportunities to support those in your community. Take a few hours to offer your hotspot to a friend without internet access or loan out a lesser-used device to someone for a semester – the options are endless!
Donate to a cause
There are several organizations working to address the digital divide with everything from government intervention to non-profit community efforts like Oakland’s Public Education Fund.
You can also help support students by donating to Close the Gap’s distance learning microgrant program.
Learn and share resources
The simplest way to help close the digital divide is to learn more about it and share that with others in your community. Get started with the resources below.