The digital world offers a lot of groundbreaking solutions to human problems that are as old as time. However, the great leap we have been able to make due to our access to digital solutions is only within the reach of some of us. Others, especially rural dwellers are left behind, lost in the dark, in a world where we scream inclusion on mountain tops.
Here are some of the reasons behind the digital divide we suffer today and possible solutions to this grievous anomaly.
1. Lack of awareness: Many nations still do not consider the digital divide to be a serious problem. So, they handle it with kids’ gloves or outrightly disregard it. Organizations such as the United Nations recognize the socio-economic advantages that the elimination of the digital divide will bring to nations, such as poverty alleviation, etc. For these reasons, the United Nations and its partners need to raise awareness of how the digital divide is a serious global issue that needs to take center stage at the planning table of all governments across the world.
2. Lack of infrastructure: This is a primary issue that contributes largely to the digital divide. Low-income communities and rural areas are often left out of broadband investment projects in favor of urban areas where people can afford to pay for quality internet services. To alleviate this problem, governments need to collaborate with private tech companies to ensure broadband infrastructures are created in rural areas. This could be direct funding from the government purse or borrowing from global financial institutions.
3. Affordability: Rural dwellers are often low-income earners. Digital service providers and vendors for hardware that give people access to internet services often target urban areas where they are assured of getting a return on investment while neglecting rural areas. The government should subsidize the price of mobile phones, computers, and internet subscriptions to rural areas having financial agreements with tech companies that provide these goods and services such as significant tax cuts, etc.
4. Lack of digital literacy: Even if digital devices and the proper infrastructure are put in place in low-income communities, lack of digital literacy is another hurdle that must be surmounted to bridge the digital divide. The solution to this problem is basically digital education. Children should be exposed to knowledge on how to use the internet and computers at a very young age the government. Digital literacy should be incorporated into the school curriculum of children in rural areas. Programs to increase digital literacy among adults should also be implemented the government and corporate bodies like Mtn Nigeria.
5. Language and cultural barriers: In most rural communities speaking of the mother tongue is more prevalent than the speaking English language. However, most content on the internet, phone operating systems information, etc., are often offered in English. This could discourage people who are not proficient in the use of English from using any form of digital technology that is limited to the English language. The solution to these using artificial intelligence to translate the English language to all languages without errors.
Bridging the digital divide is far from being off limits, with the level of technology we have in the world today and access to financial interventions and solutions. The most important things are raising awareness about it globally, encouraging governments to form and implement groundbreaking policies that will make digital products and the Internet affordable to rural dwellers, providing Internet information in all local languages educating people on how to use the Internet, and more.