The digital divide describes the inequality between populations with access to modern communication technologies (mobile phones, internet, etc.) and those without. This article explains what the digital divide is and what its global implications are.
The Digital Divide, Explained
The exact definition of the digital divide has evolved with technological advances. For example, the divide used to refer primarily to the availability of cell towers, but now it is defined by access to high-speed internet access. Lack of internet access means limited access to education, employment, medical information, and social communities.
The digital divide extends across developed and developing countries, but also exists between urban and rural areas within countries. Globally, there are digital divides between men and women, young and old, rich and poor, and educated and less educated.
During the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns, traditional in-person learning was put on hold around the world as classrooms went virtual. As a result, students were left without internet access. In 2020, at the start of the pandemic, approximately 16 million K-12 students in the U.S. did not have access to an internet-enabled device. Students in southern states, particularly students of color and those from low-income families, are less likely to have reliable internet access than their peers.
