What is The Digital Divide? Mozilla Explains

Summary

Alice Munyua, Director of Mozilla's Africa Mradi, discusses the digital divide—the disparity in access to computers, mobile devices, and the internet. Highlighting the cost barrier in Africa, where internet is the most expensive, and the significant gap in connectivity rates between the richest and poorest countries. She also touches on the impact of education levels on internet access, gender disparities, and the democratic implications of internet shutdowns. Munyua emphasizes that addressing the digital divide involves tackling deeper economic and social challenges.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The digital divide is the gap between those who have access to computers, mobile devices, and the internet, and those who do not.
• 📊 It also refers to the disparity between those who can benefit from the digital age and those who cannot.
• 🏠 In the United States, millions of people lack home internet access.
• 🌍 The connectivity gap is most significant between the richest and the poorest countries, with 80% of Europeans having internet access compared to only 26% in Africa.
• 💵 The cost of internet access in Africa is a significant factor, with Africans paying 8.8% of their monthly income for just 1GB of data.
• 🏫 Higher levels of education correlate with increased internet access, with those holding college degrees being 10 times more likely to have internet access.
• 👩‍💼 Women have less access to the internet than men, even among those who are online.
• 📡 There are bandwidth disparities, with some regions having better documented events than others.
• 🚫 Some governments promote initiatives to isolate their citizens from the open internet, such as internet shutdowns.
• 🌐 The coronavirus pandemic highlighted the importance of internet access for communication and obtaining health information.
• 🏛️ The digital divide is a symptom of deeper economic, political, social, and cultural challenges that affect both developed and underdeveloped countries.

Q & A

What is the digital divide?

The digital divide is the gap between people who have access to computers, mobile devices, and the internet, and those who do not. It also refers to the disparity between those who can benefit from the digital age and economy and those who cannot.

Where does the digital divide exist?

The digital divide exists globally, including in developed countries like the United States, where millions of Americans lack home internet access.

How does the digital divide manifest in terms of connectivity rates between rich and poor countries?

80% of Europeans have internet access compared to only 26% in the African region, indicating a significant disparity.

What is the impact of cost on the digital divide in Africa?

Africa has the most expensive internet globally, with Africans paying an average of 8.8% of their monthly income for just one GB of data.

How does education level correlate with internet access?

Households with higher levels of education are more likely to use computers and have internet access, and those with college degrees or higher are 10 times more likely to have internet access.

What gender disparity exists in internet usage?

There are fewer women able to access the internet compared to men.

What are bandwidth disparities and how do they affect documentation of events?

Bandwidth disparities mean that events like police brutality are better documented in some regions (e.g., Hong Kong) than in others (e.g., Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Tanzania).

What are some initiatives that isolate countries from the open internet?

Governments sometimes promote initiatives like internet shutdowns, which can have serious democratic and civic implications.

How did the coronavirus pandemic highlight the issue of the digital divide?

The pandemic showed that making simple video calls could be frustrating in countries like India or Nigeria due to poor connectivity.

Why is internet access crucial during non-emergency situations?

Internet access is necessary for opportunities to work, study, engage in government, and exercise political freedoms.

What deeper problem does the digital divide symptomize?

The digital divide is a symptom of deeper economic, political, social, and cultural challenges that affect both developed and underdeveloped countries.

What is the role of addressing economic and social challenges in solving the digital divide?

Addressing these challenges is key to solving the digital divide, as it involves improving access to technology and the benefits of the digital economy for all.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Understanding the Digital Divide

Alice Munyua, Director of Mozilla's Africa Mradi, introduces the digital divide as the disparity in access to computers, mobile devices, and the internet. She notes that this divide is not only about access but also about the ability to benefit from the digital age and economy. The script highlights the digital divide's global presence, with a stark contrast between connectivity rates in rich and poor countries. For instance, 80% of Europeans have internet access compared to only 26% in Africa. The cost of internet access in Africa is a significant factor, with Africans paying a higher percentage of their income for data. The script also points out that education levels and gender influence internet access, with higher-educated individuals and men having better access. Additionally, the script discusses the impact of bandwidth disparities and internet shutdowns on democratic processes and the importance of internet access during emergencies and non-emergencies.

Keywords

💡Digital Divide

The digital divide refers to the gap between those who have access to computers, mobile devices, and the internet and those who do not. It is central to the video's theme as it sets the stage for discussing disparities in access to digital resources. The script illustrates this by comparing internet access rates in the United States to those in Africa, highlighting the significant differences in connectivity.

💡Connectivity Rates

Connectivity rates are the percentages of populations that have access to the internet. They are used in the script to emphasize the disparity between different regions, such as the high rates in Europe compared to the lower rates in Africa. This term is crucial for understanding the scope of the digital divide.

💡Affordability

Affordability, in the context of the digital divide, refers to the cost of internet access relative to income. The script mentions that Africans pay a significant percentage of their monthly income for a small amount of data, indicating that high costs are a major factor contributing to the digital divide.

💡Education Level

Education level is mentioned as a factor influencing internet access, with households that are more educated and those with college degrees being more likely to use computers and have internet access. This keyword ties into the video's message by showing that the digital divide is not just about access but also about the ability to benefit from digital resources.

💡Gender Disparity

Gender disparity in internet usage is highlighted in the script, indicating that there are fewer women able to access the internet. This term is important for understanding that the digital divide affects different demographic groups in different ways and is part of a broader social inequality.

💡Bandwidth Disparities

Bandwidth disparities refer to the differences in the quality of internet connections. The script uses the example of how events in Hong Kong might be better documented online than those in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, or Tanzania, suggesting that even where access exists, the quality can vary greatly.

💡Internet Shutdowns

Internet shutdowns are deliberate actions by governments to restrict access to the internet, often for political reasons. The script mentions an instance in Tanzania, illustrating how such actions exacerbate the digital divide by limiting access to information and communication tools.

💡Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic is used in the script to highlight the importance of internet access for daily activities like video calls, especially during crises. It underscores how the digital divide can affect people's ability to stay connected and informed during global events.

💡Economic Systems

Economic systems are mentioned as underlying causes of the digital divide. The script suggests that addressing the digital divide requires tackling deeper economic issues that affect both developed and underdeveloped countries. This keyword is crucial for understanding the systemic nature of the problem.

💡Political Structures

Political structures are discussed in relation to internet shutdowns and their impact on democracy and civic engagement. The script implies that centralized political structures may be more likely to restrict internet access, contributing to the digital divide.

💡Health Crisis

The health crisis, exemplified by the need for information during the coronavirus pandemic, is used to show the critical role of the internet in accessing vital health information. This keyword highlights the life-or-death implications of the digital divide.

Highlights

The digital divide refers to the gap between those with access to computers, mobile devices, and the internet and those who do not.

The divide also includes the disparity between those who can benefit from the digital age and those who cannot.

The digital divide is a global issue, even affecting developed countries like the United States.

Connectivity rates vary significantly, with 80% of Europeans having internet access compared to only 26% in Africa.

The cost of internet access in Africa is a significant factor in the digital divide, being the most expensive in the world.

Africans pay on average 8.8% of their monthly income for just one GB of data, compared to other continents.

Higher levels of education correlate with increased likelihood of internet access and computer usage.

Individuals with college degrees or higher are 10 times more likely to have internet access.

Women are less likely to access the internet, and there are bandwidth disparities even among those who are online.

Internet shutdowns by governments can have serious democratic and civic implications.

The coronavirus pandemic highlighted the importance of internet access for communication and health information.

Internet access is crucial for work, study, government engagement, and political freedoms.

The digital divide is a symptom of deeper economic, political, social, and cultural challenges.

Addressing the digital divide requires tackling underlying economic systems and development issues.

The digital divide affects both developed and underdeveloped countries.

Once underlying challenges are addressed, we can make significant progress towards bridging the digital divide.

Transcripts

(upbeat music)

- I'm Alice Munyua,

I'm the Director of Mozilla's Africa Mradi,

and I'm going to explain the digital divide.

So, put simply, the digital divide,

is the gap that exists between people in the world

who have access to computers, mobile devices,

and the internet, and those who do not.

It also refers to the gap between those who are able

to benefit from the digital age and the digital economy,

and those who are not.

The digital divide exists everywhere you look.

For example, even here in the United States,

there are millions of Americans who don't have access

to the internet in their homes.

But the differences in connectivity rates

between the richest and the poorest countries,

is most pronounced.

For example, 80% of Europeans have access to the internet

but only 26% of those in the Africa region

have access to the internet.

For the case of the Africa region,

the digital divide is predictably impacted by cost.

The continent has the most expensive internet

in the world.

In fact, according to the Alliance for Affordable Internet,

Africans pay on average 8.8% of their monthly income

for a purchase of only one GB of data,

compared to 3.6% of total income in South America,

and only 1.5% of your total income

for internet access in Asia.

So, households with higher levels of education,

are increasingly more likely to use computers

and to have access to the internet.

And also those with a college degrees or higher,

are 10 times more likely to have access to the internet.

Statistics in internet usage show quite clearly

that there are fewer women able to access the Web

and the internet generally.

Even for those who are online,

there exists bandwidth disparities.

For example, police brutality at a protest in Hong Kong,

will be far better documented,

than at one Nigeria or Zimbabwe or Tanzania for that matter.

There are also several initiatives promoted

by governments or states to isolate themselves

from the open internet.

For example, internet shutdowns.

You saw that happen in Tanzania last year,

and those have serious democratic and civic implications

because you get highly centralized political structures.

Also the coronavirus pandemic,

reminded us on a daily basis that,

making a simple video call can be a really

frustrating exercise for someone in India or Nigeria.

And for those who are fortunate enough

to have meaningful connectivity,

the internet provides a really crucial link

to information that helps us keep our families healthy

and safe during this global health crisis.

Internet access is really necessary as well

during non-emergencies,

for fear opportunities to work, study,

engage in government and exercise political freedoms.

The problem of the digital divide is just a symptom

that points us to a much deeper problem

in that economic systems and economic development.

And this is a problem that characterizes

both developed and underdeveloped countries in the world.

So, once this economic, political, social,

and cultural challenges are addressed,

I think we'd be much closer

to addressing the digital divide.

(upbeat music)