Page 40 - Reclaim YOUR DIGITAL GOLD (without audio)

RECLAIM YOUR DIGITAL GOLD

WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS DIGITAL DIVIDE?

The term “digital divide” refers to the disparity that
exists between populations and geographical areas in
terms of who has access to current information and
communications technologies and who does not. The
term currently incorporates the technical and financial
ability to employ available technology, together with
access (or a lack of access) to the Internet. But the
gap that it refers to is continually widening with the
advancement of technology.

When the term “digital divide” was originally used, in the
latter part of the 20th century, for example, it referred to
the divide between those who had access to cellphones
and those who did not.

There are digital gaps between industrialized countries
and developing countries, urban and rural populations,
young and educated people, and older and less educated
people. The gap between urban and rural areas is
the single most important contributor to the digital
divide. Isolation, which can have negative effects on
mental health, educational hurdles in an era where more
and more postsecondary education is being offered
online, and a worsening of gender discrimination are
some of the implications of the digital divide.

The global coronavirus pandemic has brought to light
the disparities in digital coverage that exist across the
globe, such as those that exist among children who are
required to attend school off-site and those that exist
in less affluent communities, where residents have had
difficulty scheduling vaccination appointments.

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