Isolation In An Online World

1. ISOLATION
IN AN ONLINE
WORLD
By: Samantha Weima
Flickr:
Dragan-­‐
“Campari
Beau5es”

2. Only 65% of low-income households have
access to the Internet, compared to 95%
of wealthier households1
Flickr:
Kevin
Doyle-­‐
“MacBook
Air”

3. The rise of the Internet
started in the 90s, and
along with it came rapid
changes in our culture
and daily lives
Flickr:
Brad
Scruse-­‐
“Macintosh
Classic
B&W”

4. Schooling, communication,
shopping, recreational activities,
information access...
Nearly every aspect of our lives
has been impacted by the
internet
IconArchive:
Icons8-­‐
“Wifi
Icon”

5. This revolution creates a digital divide
between the “iHave”, and “iHave Not”2
Flickr:
Frank
Mitchell-­‐
“Encounter”

6. Flickr:
Joao
Lavinha
Flickr:
Giuseppe
Milo
(www.pixael.com)
iHave NotiHave

7. Divided by both Internet access and aptitude, those isolated by the
Internet are at a distinct disadvantage, and people are falling behind2
Those most affected by this “digital divide” in North America include
those of low income, ethnic minorities, immigrants, and the elderly3
Flickr:
Mark
Gunn-­‐
“People”

8. "In a society where increasingly we are defined by
access to information and what we earn is what we
learn, if you don't have access to technology, you're
going to be left in the digital dark ages. That's what
the digital divide is all about.”4
-William Kennard, FCC
Flickr:
Abhijit
Chendvankar-­‐
“Keep
Walking”

9. The Internet plays an
unquestionable role in
communication,
culture, and
commerce5
From this comes the
question- should
Internet access be a
human right?
Flickr:
Mister
G.C.-­‐
“Zips
'n'
BuUons”

10. According to the United Nations Human Rights Council, yes.
A 2011 report came out, stating “Given that the Internet has
become an indispensable tool for realizing a range of human
rights, combating inequality, and accelerating development and
human progress, ensuring universal access to the Internet
should be a priority for all States. Each State should thus
develop a concrete and effective policy, in consultation with
individuals from all sections of society, including the private
sector and relevant Government ministries, to make the
Internet widely available, accessible and affordable to all
segments of population”6 –Frank La Rue
Flickr:
Dennis
Meene-­‐
“_MG_4595”

11. This report is
not binding,
but serves as
a guideline
for nations to
protect
individual’s
access and
expression
online7
Flickr:
Thoroughly
Reviewed-­‐
hUps///thoroughlyreviewed.com

12. So what does this mean for the digital divide?
Flickr:
Mario
Mancuso-­‐
“Stopover”

13. “The internet will not simply
appear… nor will people’s
lives be fundamentally
transformed by its mere
presence. It is a policy that
has to be enacted, a service
that has to be provided, and
a tool that people must have
the ability to access. It is,
therefore, inherently
wrapped up with both
politics and business.”8
–Elizabeth Button
Flickr:
Enric
Fradera-­‐
“Rituals”

14. So what can be done?
Flickr:
Per
Gosche-­‐
“Learning
Session”

15. Progress is being made with the rise in public
Internet access; such as in public libraries, schools,
and community access centres1
Flickr:
telmo32-­‐
“Books”

16. However, the
solution involves
both equipment
and education.
“Internet access
without the
confidence and
ability to
effectively use
the technology
is like having a
microphone and
not know how to
turn it on or
what to say.”9
- J. Hardin
Flickr:
Samantha
Celera-­‐
“Mic
Check”

17. Digital literacy is a crucial concept in bridging the digital divide
Flickr:
colinstu-­‐
“In
the
Dark”

18. “In addition to public access, we need freely available, one-on-one
assistance and small group training through government-funded
community technology sites, like public libraries. The result will be a
“learning citizenry” capable of adaptation to rapid change.”1
-Eric Stackhouse
Flickr:
Derek
Bruff-­‐
“No
More
Pencils,
No
More
Books”

19. The result?
Flickr:
www.Pixel.la
Free
Stock
Pictures

20. By bridging the digital
divide, marginalized
populations gain access
to critical information,
creative outlets,
learning resources, and
are able to make more
informed decisions
regarding education,
occupation, and
healthcare10
Flickr:
Brent
Weichsel-­‐
“37”

21. Leading to more opportunities, and a better quality of life
Flickr:
Boris
Thaser-­‐
“Abseits
/
Offside”

22. Works Cited
[1] McGee, Craig and Marc Kielburger. "Have Your Say: How Can We Help Canadians Gain
Better Access To The Internet?". The Globe and Mail. N.p., 2017. Web. 4 Mar. 2017.
[2] Matrix, Sidneyeve. “Module 01 Lecture 02 Media Use Research”. Lecture. 4 Mar. 2017.
[3] Gustke, Constance. "Technology, While Not A Fountain Of Youth, Can Make Aging Safer".
Nytimes.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 4 Mar. 2017.
[4] "The Digital Divide". Cs.stanford.edu. N.p., 2017. Web. 4 Mar. 2017.
[5] Geist, Michael. "Is Internet Connectivity A Human Right? | Toronto Star". thestar.com. N.p.,
2017. Web. 4 Mar. 2017.
[6] McHugh, Molly. "UN Declares Internet Access A Human Right". Digital Trends. N.p., 2017.
Web. 4 Mar. 2017.
[7] McKenney, Kyle. "The UN Declares Internet Access A Basic Human Right".
pastemagazine.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 4 Mar. 2017.
[8] Button, Elizabeth. "Digital Divides: Considerations On Access To The Internet As A Human
Right In Rwanda - African Community Advancement Initiative". African Community Advancement
Initiative. N.p., 2017. Web. 4 Mar. 2017.
[9] Hardin, J. "How To Bridge The Digital Divide". Streetdirectory.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 4 Mar.
2017.
[10] "The Importance Of Bridging The Digital Divide". Clinton4.nara.gov. N.p., 2017. Web. 4 Mar.
2017.