Page 66 - Zenith2024

Zenith 2024

Today, digital innovation is changing our lives and society as a whole.
Digital technologies such as the internet and smartphones make
information easier to access and provide new opportunities, but not
everyone enjoys the benefits equally. This digital gap strengthens
unfairness between individuals, classes, and regions, and leads to social
alienation. The digital gap and the resulting social alienation are some
of the important causes of economic and social inequality, and efforts to
address them are becoming increasingly important.

Causes of the Digital Gap

The digital gap is caused by a variety of factors, and among them,
economic inequality, education level, generational difference, and regional
difference have a big impact. First, economic factors mean low-income
people are limited in accessing digital devices or high-speed Internet services. Expensive equipment and
internet bills are seriously burdensome for low-income households. As a result, low-income families are
likely to not receive the various benefits provided by digital devices, such as education, employment, and
health information.

The level of digital education also has a significant impact on the digital divide. People who do not have
enough education are more likely to have difficulty using digital devices and learn new skills. Also, the
older generation is not familiar with digital devices, unlike teenagers, and has fewer opportunities to
access them, so they are less able to use technology. This makes it difficult to deal with digital devices and
information, increasingly at risk of being left out of society.
Regional differences are also an important cause of the digital divide. Unlike large cities, rural areas are
likely to be left out of information and services because of their lack of internet infrastructure and less
access to things like public Wi-Fi. These regional digital gaps are acting as a reinforcing factor in social
inequality.

Solutions and plans for reaction to close the digital divide

In order to solve the digital gap and social alienation, the government, private companies, and civil society
all need to work together. First, there is a need for a plan to provide free Internet services to low-income
families or to support digital devices. This will not only reduce the economic burden but also help increase

66