The presence of technology in everyday life has always been perceived as somethinguseful and profitable.
Since our lives have come to depend on technology, we've learned to connect to the Internet, make an online payment and even have the possibility of obtaining a diploma.
Nevertheless, technology also has its pitfalls, such as being a divisive factor for certain categories of people and in certain situations.
Indeed, according to a study conducted by ExpressVPN, 8 out of 10 adults say they help their parents with digital tasks of various kinds.
A less inclusive future for technology?
Over the past three decades, technology has radically transformed our lives, pushing us towards massive integration into the digital world. While many people have benefited from these changes, others have been cut off from them altogether; as a result, there has also been a growing awareness of the limits that some technologies can engender.
The so-called " digital divide " - the gap between those with access to the Internet and technological skills and those without - remains a crucial issue. Studies published by institutes and companies, such as the one just mentioned, have revealed a phenomenon that is a direct consequence of the digital divide: the senior citizens gap, i.e. the exclusion of non-literate people from public society.
The digital divide: a persistent challenge
The digital divide is no longer a question of access to technology, as it reflects the economic and social inequalities that characterize global society. In the United States, for example, the Pew Research Center found that almost 43% of households with incomes below $30,000 do not have a broadband connection at home, and around 27% of these people rely solely on their cell phones to access the Internet.
The COVID-19 pandemic further amplified these inequalities, creating difficulties especially for low-income households, who found themselves without adequate digital tools for distance work or education. Better-off households, on the other hand, saw an increase in the adoption of mobile and fixed Internet services, definitively consolidating their propensity for the digital world.
Connected world concept: Earth with circuits and ethernet cable____INSPECTOR____Earth map derived from here:http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.phpid=57735
Social implications of the technology divide
The implications of the digital divide are manifold, and can result in considerable economic damage,exclusion and backwardness. Digital exclusion actually limits opportunities in education, employment and even social life.
The " senior divide " is precisely the concrete manifestation of the consequences of this reality; according to a study by the Purdue Center for Regional Development, around 25% of people over 65 don't own acomputer, and even when they do, they often don't have access to the Internet, which considerably limits their participation in social life and online services, including health and financial services.
An uncertain future: inclusive or exclusive technology?
Although considerable progress has been made in bridging the digital divide, much remains to be done to ensure that no one is left behind. According to the United Nations, almost half the world's population - 3.7 billion people - are still offline, particularly in developing countries.
Digital inclusion requires a global commitment, to ensure that new technologies, such asartificial intelligence and blockchain, do not widen the gap further, but become tools that promote equitable access to economic and social opportunities.
The risk to be avoided is therefore that, if not properly managed, the digital future will further exacerbate existing inequalities.
