The Digital Divide | Arjun Linglala | TEDxChelmsfordHS

Summary

The speaker highlights the growing digital divide, emphasizing that while many people have access to devices and the internet, 4.3 billion people worldwide do not. This disparity hinders access to education, health information, and job opportunities. The speaker shares a personal story of establishing a nonprofit, 'Closing the Divide,' which aims to reduce this gap. He encourages others to find their own ways to address global inequalities, whether by starting a nonprofit or taking smaller actions to make a positive impact on society.

Takeaways

• 📱 Many people around the world still lack access to basic internet and devices, with 4.3 billion not having internet access.
• 💻 Even those who have access often face financial limitations that prevent them from getting high-quality devices like phones and laptops.
• 🧠 We often take internet access for granted, using it for education, healthcare, and entertainment without considering how lucky we are.
• 🍿 Entertainment services like Netflix and Hulu are widely consumed, but we rarely stop to think about who can afford these services or even the devices to access them.
• 📱 A 2022 Super Bowl ad by Coinbase highlighted how QR codes and other digital tools assume universal device access, which isn't the reality for many.
• 🚶‍♂️ The story of a poor man unable to provide a phone number or email for job applications shows how lack of access can trap people in poverty.
• 🔄 The digital divide creates a feedback loop: those with access rise higher while those without fall further behind.
• 🌍 Closing the Divide is a nonprofit organization that aims to reduce this gap by improving access to digital infrastructure globally.
• 👥 Anyone can make a difference by addressing inequalities in areas like food, clothing, education, or the digital divide.
• 🤝 The message encourages people to find their passion and take action, whether through big or small efforts, to help solve global inequities.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the speech?

The main topic of the speech is the digital divide, highlighting the inequalities in access to digital infrastructure such as internet access and devices.

How many people around the world lack internet access according to the speaker?

The speaker mentions that 4.3 billion people around the world do not have access to the internet.

What are some everyday activities mentioned that require internet access?

Some everyday activities mentioned include looking up educational content, searching health information, filing taxes, and accessing entertainment services like Netflix or Hulu.

What is the main issue with people assuming everyone has internet access?

The main issue is that it ignores the vast number of people who cannot afford devices or internet access, leading to further inequalities in opportunities and quality of life.

What story did the speaker share about the impact of lacking internet access?

The speaker shared a story about a man who was unable to provide a phone number or email address during job interviews because he couldn't afford a phone or internet, which prevented him from getting a job.

How does the digital divide create a feedback loop for disadvantaged people?

The digital divide creates a feedback loop where those without internet access are unable to find jobs, improve their education, or access health information, leading to worsening financial and health situations and keeping them in poverty.

What solution does the speaker propose to bridge the digital divide?

The speaker suggests using personal advantages to help others, whether by setting up initiatives like nonprofits or contributing in smaller ways to reduce the inequalities between the haves and the have-nots.

What nonprofit organization did the speaker establish, and what is its purpose?

The speaker established a nonprofit called Closing the Divide, which focuses on bridging the digital divide by providing access to digital infrastructure.

What impact has the speaker's nonprofit made so far?

The nonprofit has become international, with branches in countries like Russia, India, and the U.S. It has received over $100,000 in donations and has more than 150 members.

What does the speaker suggest individuals can do to address issues in their community?

The speaker suggests that individuals do not need to start a nonprofit but can make a difference by focusing on issues such as food problems, education, or other inequalities, and taking any action that contributes to positive change.

Outlines

00:00

📱 The Importance of Digital Access

The speaker begins by asking the audience to raise their phones, highlighting how nearly everyone possesses a device. However, they point out that 4.3 billion people globally do not have access to the internet, and even among those who do, many cannot afford high-quality devices. The speaker emphasizes how we often take digital access for granted, using examples like students searching for homework help or people solving everyday problems online. They reflect on how deeply technology is embedded in our lives, from entertainment subscriptions to solving practical issues, but often forget about those without such access.

05:01

🌐 The Digital Divide and Its Impacts

The speaker discusses the widening digital divide, emphasizing how those with access to technology and the internet continue to advance, while those without it are left further behind. They share a story of a man who struggled during job interviews because he lacked a phone number and email, showing how essential digital access has become in daily life. The speaker stresses that for those in poverty, lacking digital tools creates a feedback loop that makes it harder to escape financial struggles, worsening health and economic outcomes. The gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged grows as a result.

💪 Taking Action to Close the Gap

The speaker describes their personal response to the digital divide by founding a nonprofit called 'Closing the Divide,' which addresses access to digital infrastructure. They share the organization's achievements, including international branches and projects in countries like Russia, India, and Egypt, raising over $100,000 and involving 150 members. The speaker encourages others to find their own passions and act on societal problems, whether it's the digital divide, food insecurity, education, or inequality. They emphasize that everyone can play a role in bridging gaps and making the world a better place, even if they don’t start a nonprofit.

Keywords

💡Digital divide

The digital divide refers to the gap between individuals who have access to modern technology and the internet and those who do not. In the video, the speaker highlights how many people, especially those in poorer financial situations, lack access to devices like phones and computers, which puts them at a significant disadvantage in terms of education, employment, and health information.

💡Access

Access, in this context, refers to the ability to use digital tools such as the internet and electronic devices. The video discusses how access to technology is uneven, with many people unable to afford devices or internet services. This lack of access can trap people in a cycle of poverty by limiting their opportunities to improve their situation.

💡Poverty

Poverty is used to describe the financial hardships that prevent individuals from obtaining necessary resources, including digital technology. In the video, poverty is linked to the digital divide, as the poor are less likely to have the devices or internet access needed for education, job opportunities, and even health information, further exacerbating their financial situation.

💡Feedback loop

A feedback loop, in this context, refers to a cycle where lack of access to technology perpetuates poverty, and poverty in turn limits access to technology. The speaker mentions that people who are stuck in poverty without access to digital resources are more likely to remain in that situation, while those with access can continue to improve their circumstances.

💡Disparities

Disparities refer to the inequalities or differences in access to technology between different groups of people. The video highlights the growing disparities between those who have access to high-quality devices and internet services and those who do not, which further widens the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged groups.

💡Opportunity

Opportunity in the video refers to the potential benefits that technology and internet access provide, such as finding job opportunities, accessing education, or improving health knowledge. The speaker emphasizes that for those without access, these opportunities are missed, contributing to a cycle of disadvantage.

💡Nonprofit

A nonprofit organization is one that operates for a social cause rather than for profit. The speaker mentions founding a nonprofit called 'Closing the Divide,' which aims to address the digital divide by providing technology and internet access to those who lack it. This is presented as one way individuals can help tackle inequities in society.

💡Devices

Devices, in this context, refer to electronic tools such as phones, laptops, and tablets that are used to access the internet and digital services. The speaker frequently mentions how people rely on these devices for daily activities, from watching educational videos to finding jobs, and how lacking these devices limits one’s ability to participate in modern life.

💡Internet access

Internet access refers to the ability to connect to the web and utilize its resources. The video stresses that while many take internet access for granted, billions of people globally do not have reliable or affordable access to the internet. This lack of access greatly limits their ability to improve their lives, such as through job searches or education.

💡Inequality

Inequality refers to the unequal distribution of resources, in this case, digital resources such as devices and internet access. The speaker discusses how inequality in access to technology exacerbates other societal inequalities, making it harder for disadvantaged people to escape poverty and improve their lives.

Highlights

The speaker begins by asking everyone to raise their phones, highlighting how widespread device ownership is among the audience.

4.3 billion people globally do not have access to the internet, and many who do have access struggle with affordability and low-quality devices.

The speaker emphasizes how often people in privileged situations use devices to solve everyday problems, such as searching for help with schoolwork or health issues.

Many people don’t recognize their privilege of having access to entertainment services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or Disney Plus.

The speaker shares an example of a 2022 Coinbase Super Bowl ad that assumed everyone had a phone and internet access, showing how access is taken for granted.

A personal story about a man unable to provide a phone number or email during job interviews highlights the digital divide’s real-world impact.

The normalization of having good devices and internet access is contrasted with the reality that many people still lack such access.

The speaker explains how digital access can break cycles of poverty by providing job opportunities, education, and health advice.

Those without digital access face a negative feedback loop, where lack of access leads to deeper poverty and associated problems like poor health.

The digital divide widens the gap between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots,' with those in better situations continually advancing while others fall behind.

The speaker encourages using personal advantages to close this gap, stressing that everyone can contribute to addressing inequalities in society.

The speaker founded a nonprofit called 'Closing the Divide,' focusing on bridging the digital divide, with international branches in countries like Russia and India.

The nonprofit has received over $100,000 in donations and has more than 150 members working on projects in various countries.

The speaker emphasizes that you don’t need to start a nonprofit to make a difference; small actions in addressing issues like food, clothing, or education can also help.

The speech concludes with a call to action, urging listeners to find ways to contribute to solving the growing inequalities and make the world a better place.

Transcripts

Transcriber: Luke DiNardo Reviewer: 新 陈

Could everybody who has a phone here today raise it up high over your heads?

All right. All right. Thank you.

It looks like just about everybody here has a device.

However, some of you who don’t have a device,

how a few be there may be.

I’m sure you all have internet access, right?

The thing is, there are many people,

4.3 billion people around the world who don't enjoy such access.

Now, this number grows when you realize that

the people who do have infrastructure access

can’t afford things like laptops or phones.

And the number grows even greater

when you realize that those who can afford,

a portion of them can only afford the models that are of low quality

because that's what they can afford under their financial restrictions.

Now, we use our devices a lot. And that’s not the problem.

The thing is, we never realize how lucky we are to actually have this access.

Think back on it. How many times of my fellow students looked up a problem

cauze they were stuck on some AP physics concepts

or watched a video on AP Chem on YouTube

because they couldn’t figure out what was gonna be on the next test.

How about when you had a health problem?

How many of you have searched that up on the Internet?

How many of you have looked up financial things

like filing your taxes after your first job?

Or maybe other random things,

like finding protein powder that actually tastes good?

Spoiler. It’s impossible.

But if you do find it, let me know, please.

I can’t keep drinking this.

It's really, really amazing how ingrained this is.

Let's look at the biggest thing. Entertainment services.

How many of you actually have Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus?

Hundreds of millions of us spend many hours watching these shows

on these different networks.

And we always ask each other.

We ask our friends:

DId you watch a new Money Heist episode?

Did you watch this? Did you watch that?

And we always tell our friends,

“You should get the subscription to maybe Netflix or Hulu or whatever.”

But we never stop to consider everybody’s access to such things.

We never consider whether they can afford it,

whether they even have the devices to watch such shows.

We should look at these things.

Now, how many of you actually watch the Super Bowl? I'm sure many of you did.

It's America's favorite pastime. It's a great game. The ads are fun.

How many of you noticed an ad by Coinbase, a cryptocurrency company?

This ad consisted of a QR code bouncing around on a black screen.

Now, this code was scannable. You have to take out your phone, scan it.

It would take you to a website where there were a bunch of promos.

And in 2022, I didn't think much of it. I just scanned it.

Many others just saw it and moved on.

But looking back on it now,

I notice how it assumed everybody would have to have Internet access

and access to their own phones and devices in order to reach the website.

It reminded me of a story I read a few years ago.

This story had this poor man. He was down on his luck.

He was in an unfortunate financial situation.

Now, to fix this, he went out for some job interviews around town.

In these job interviews, he left a great impression on the employers.

And at the end of each job interview, everybody asked him for two things.

They asked him for his phone number and his email.

Being in the situation he actually was in, he couldn't provide either of those.

It’s amazing how in the past 15 years we’ve come a long way with devices

such as laptops and phones.

And it’s so normalized to have good Internet access

and to have good devices when it really isn't as common as you think.

Now, to some, it may seem like this doesn’t matter.

You’re gonna go home.

You’re gonna not watch this video.

You’re gonna just not care in about the next five minutes. Right?

The effects are vast. They’re endless and they keep going.

Those in rough financial situations can use devices and Internet access

to find things like job opportunities,

get education and fix their health situations

with the advice on the Internet.

The opportunities are endless.

But for those without access,

it results in a feedback loop.

Like the poor man I mentioned,

those in poverty trying to get out might be stuck because they don’t have access.

And staying in poverty could result in health issues,

which could result in them being pushed deeper into their situation.

And it’s a feedback loop that repeats—Without access.

Those with advantages like us,

we go higher and higher because we use these advantages.

And it increases the gap against people

who don’t have these advantages and are disadvantaged.

The people who are disadvantaged are pushing deeper

and deeper into the situation, increasing the gap.

We have to use our advantages and fill this gap.

For me, what I did was I found my own passion, something that I like to do.

I set up a nonprofit with some of my friends called Closing the Divide.

Now, this nonprofit was focused on the problem I’m currently talking about,

the digital divide,

the access to digital infrastructure.

We’re currently international.

We have branches in all over the United States.

We have branches internationally in countries like Russia and India.

We have projects going in Egypt, India,

and we're setting up things in other countries.

We’ve reached over 100,000 dollars worth of donation value,

and we also have over 150 members.

Now, I’m not saying you have to set up an international nonprofit

in order to fix your problem.

You don't have to do such a thing. You can focus on anything.

It doesn’t have to be the digital divide.

You can focus on food problems.

You can focus on clothing, education and inequalities,

anything out there in which there's a problem.

And you don't have to set up a nonprofit. You can do your own part.

Anything that exists to make things better.

The point is, the discrepancies between the haves and the have-nots is growing.

You have to figure out what you can do to solve this.

We can find a way.

We can make our community,

our country and the world a better place.

And we can solve these inequalities and inequities.

You just have to figure out how.