Digital divide new face of inequality
As Corona virus pandemic keeps showing its new more dangerous colors in latest waves across the world, social distancing has become the only option to be safe and save humanity. In schools, colleges and workplaces, people’s interactions are more and more depending on technology. From classes and studies to meeting and conferences are being done through video calls now.
As the offline communication means take a backseat, you need to be equipped with technology and be more tech savvy to study and work in online mode. But what about those children and adults for whom work with technology and even owning gadgets like smartphone and laptop is still a luxury. Are we welcoming a new face of inequality in form of digital divide during Covid 19 outbreak in the world?
Digital divide, the new face of inequality!
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed recently warned about the digital divide to become “the new face of inequality” if decisive action not taken by the international community. “Almost half the world’s population, 3.7 billion people, the majority of them women, and most in developing countries, are still offline,” Mohammed told in UN General Assembly.
She further called on the global community to contribute in designing of digital environment where everyone can be connected with a positive future. In this regard, she urged for collaboration among national and local governments, private sector, civil society, academia and multilateral organizations. Outlining the circle of global cooperation, she also highlighted UN’s key role in the making of proper digital space.
Latest numbers can be more dangerous
However, these are almost pre-covid numbers reflecting the digital divide across the world. In wake of more people being poorer in Covid times, one can understand that ground reality is more terrible now. The UN has sounded alarm time and again on the situation during pre-covid and covid era. Last year, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres shared recent call of action to bridge the global digital divide.
UN’s call of actions
Guterres called for a global cooperation to provide safe and affordable internet to everyone by 2030. Late 2020, UN declared “closing the digital divide” an essential in achievement of Global Goals. It also called on the world to ensure that nobody was left behind. At the fortnight-long virtual Internet Governance Forum, participants explored new solutions for ensuring an equitable and inclusive internet. During this virtual forum, the discussion was on “Internet and Human Resilience and Solidarity”.
Digital divide is not an ancient term but still immensely serious latest inequality among the people of the world. On one hand, world is busy in containing spread of virus and curing the infected population. While, on other hand, digital divide is expanding in big way in absence of proper attention by the global communities.
