What is the digital divide? Digital Equity is not the same as Digital Inclusion, and why we MUST have Digital Divide Indexes for every Country

Interesting article below about the difference between digital equity (a goal of full equal access to information and technology) and digital inclusion (access to proper devices and skills to use them). We also sit with new digital divides being created as newer technologies come online, so this is not a static situation.

It may be great for many who have access to all things digital but a growing or existing wide gap means that services must be duplicated, staff are divided amongst physical and digital channels, statistics seen are not holistic, etc. We need to move everyone forward and not just the "haves".

I had a quick search for digital divide indexes, and whilst I found those for the USA (also mapped out) I could only find a lot of talk for South Africa (and Africa) about the urgent need to close the digital divide. But, in my opinion, if we have not got a clear index map available, we can't measure what we need to achieve and see how we are progressing. As the old adage goes "what you can't measure, you can't manage". If access to the Internet is a basic human right, maybe we must manage and rank that properly like we do for access to water, electricity, sanitation, and health care?

We hear a lot from the "haves" but we are not truly hearing from the "have-nots". There is a lot of effort around free WiFi as well as zero-rated data for defined websites and even digital access centres, but digital inclusion includes the devices, access and skills to use that. Maybe the digital "have-nots" need to appreciate why they need proper digital access, that it is more than just having WhatsApp or Facebook, so that it becomes a strong need and demand to have the access. Should we even have one part of government competing with another in this area, or should there be mandated cooperation required?

See What is the digital divide?

#technology #humanrights #digitaldivide #digitaldivideindex #DDI

"We can't let ourselves be OK with a child, or anyone, going to a parking lot to do their homework or fill out a job application."

source https://gadgeteer.co.za/what-digital-divide-digital-equity-not-same-digital-inclusion-and-why-we-must-have-digital-divide