Nov 11, 2023, 07:57 PM IST

Digital Poverty: How we can escape being digitally poor?

Srishti Sisodia

Image credit: Pixabay

Srishti Sisodia

The world is moving onto online platforms across all sectors leading to massive growth in the information and communication technology (ICT) industry.

The internet was once a luxury, but now it has become an essential utility. Global spending on ICTs is increasing in new technologies like robotics, 3D Printing, Augmented and Virtual Reality.

Technology has been rapidly increasing and continues to advance but many countries still don't have access to the latest technology. This digital divide between the rich and poor is widening, causing DIGITAL POVERTY.

ICT is used for various forms of communications, such as broadcast media, telecommunications and intelligent building management systems. These forms of technology range from expensive smartphones to smart TVs with cable networks, and gadgets.

Digital poverty simply means a lack of ICTs and might be a feature of any population segment, whether or not economically poor.

People without access to ICT don't have access to items online, digital information, or digital participation. The cycle of digital poverty is continuing.

The issues can be tackled by spreading awareness and using alternative technologies, such as wireless and satellite, in order to bring fast internet to areas that are the most hard to reach geographically.