What is digital divide?
Digital divide refers discrimination among individuals, society and community people to entrance and usage of Information and communication technology in different purposes. For example, a student who lives in city can attend a online class but a student who lives in a village or rural area he Couldn’t take internet access and Sometimes we see that they have no smart phone also.
Why does it matter?
Digital divide a phenomenon now a days in the world and even in Bangladesh. It appears in different sectors in our daily life. Like as, education, health issues, entertainment, business etc. It is not a technological issues, it could be a socio-economic issues also.where we can see discrimination between rural and city, rich and poor, men and women, literate and illiterate people in the World. Especially in COVID-19 pandemic are being hampered in various sector.
Impact of digital divide in Education
Digital technologies like, software, website, digital tools are playing a crucial role in this era for gathering knowledge. Website like khan Academy for learning science.BYju’s or ABC mouse these are educational Websites that children can use to understand better from before. If there is any hinder for learning better, the main cause is digital divide Such as limited access of information an technologies, lack of understand about digital tools and e- learning platforms like using apps, website etc.
Impact of digital divide in Health care:
Telemedicine a type of health care services though digital platforms like video calls, mobile calls and online consultation which is conducted by the prime minister’s office operates Union Information and Service Centres (UISCs) has been in 4536 union of Bangladesh. Lack of knowledge in digital literacy about health care considered as digital divide in health care issues. For a better future, we need to enrich knowledge is must in every sector, it could be health care, mental health, physical challenges etc.
Impact of digital divide in business
The bad influence of digital divide in business sector which definitely hamper our economical growth. Business and economical growth is correlated tern that both are crippling because of digital divide. E-commerce is a famous term in the world, which refers electrical business or using internet when commodities are buying and selling. Because of digital divide it hampers e-commerce industry. It reduced productivity more and more.
Impact of digital divide in economic growth
Economy of Bangladesh still depends on Agriculture. The government of Bangladesh provide lots of opportunities such as information required for a farmer government launched a website (www.ais.Gov.bd) which will provide all the information requires for a farmer. Lack of knowledge about using digitalized technology, limited access of information is reflection of digital divide in economical growth. NGOs’ financial aid programmes, subsidies, and government services are now digital platform. The people who have no knowledge about digital technologies they affected by the digital divide.
Solution of digital divide
- The first step should be taken for improving internet accessibility that lower income family’s students can access to internet.
- Government policies must be taken for solve this problem.
- Digital literacy and education must be ensured for solving digital divide Encourage students of all level about digital literacy. ICT (Information and Communication Technology) has to be attached in school and college curriculum in Bangladesh.
Conclusion
The digital divide is not only discrimination about usage of digital technologies but also hinder of digital literacy, which is significant around the world. Proper internet access and necessary initiative must be taken by authorities for removing digital divide. Though, it is hard to remove digital divide fully but some rules and regulation can be made for balancing the digital course.
