Reader Response DRAFT2: Global digital divide persists but is narrowing(Euromonitor International)

According to an article from Euromonitor International, global digital divide remains as an recurring issue - despite the doubling of Internet users worldwide from 2005 to 2010. While there has been a higher increase in Internet access and usage growth rates in the developing regions, Internet penetration has been more even and significantly present in developed regions. This is due to greater IT investments from the state, better accessibility and availability of modern technology, and citizens’ higher spending power. Companies are coming up with new business tactics to suit the changing consumptions patterns, which are just one of the many consequences brought about by the availability of Internet connection in the various regions (“Global digital divide persists but is narrowing”, 2011).

I personally experienced the transition from having no broadband connection to being able to enjoy the convenience brought about by Internet access. According to a senior correspondent for NYTimes.com, the Internet has integrated so deeply into our life that "few recall what life was like without it" (Cowell, 2014). I agree with the article that the availability of information on the Internet allows people to learn new skills and retrieve information easily in a short amount of time as compared to traditional means. However, it fails to take into account of other important factors, such as skills and literacy level, which determine the amount of information one can access from the Internet.

As a user who has been exposed to digital technology since I was young, googling and skimming through the results to answer my queries is a piece of cake. On the other hand, if I were to ask my parents to search the Internet on how to bake a cake, most probably they would not be able to even if you give them the fastest broadband and computer. In my opinion, the article above focuses solely on the advantages IT technology can bring about to everyone from any part of the world, be it developed or rural regions. What it did not take into account is that digital technology may be new to a person, and it requires the user to pick up a new set of skills before being able to fully benefit from it.

One can say that skills can be picked up over time, and the modern IT technology including most Internet pages are designed for least complication and easy usage. Having said that, one must also understand that opening a browser and typing the web address are not the only skills required to surf the net. Just like newspaper and books, the Internet also consists of words. This brings us to the point that literacy is also a prerequisite to surf the Internet and extracting the information that the user wants. This is especially crucial in rural regions as education tends to be another issue in these places. In another article about bridging the digital divide in Africa, Treisman(2014) asserts that with more than 33% of the people in Liberia being unable to read or write, “this high-tech approach is insufficient to reach all citizens”. As such, having Internet access does not mean that one can learn new skills and retrieve information from it.

To sum up, the article does well in stating the social impact of Internet access and usage, and how it can improve the lives in rural regions. However, in my opinion, the article seems to ignore the other factors that might affect the process of improvement. In other words, the article merely mention the advantages that the Internet can bring about, and ignore the underlying criterial.



Reference

Cowell, A (2014, Jan 23). Embracing the Power of the Internet. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/world/europe/embracing-the-power-of-the-internet.html?_r=0

Euromonitor International (2011, Feb 11). Global digital divide persists but is narrowing. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from

http://blog.euromonitor.com/2011/02/global-digital-divide-persists-but-is-narrowing-1.html

Treisman, L (2014, Jan 24). Access to information: bridging the digital divide in Africa. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/jan/24/digital-divide-access-to-information-africa




-Edited 12 September 2014