Question 1: Digital Access and Divide

Q.1.1 A PowerPoint presentation aimed at the youth, discussing the core elements of Digital Citizenship and brief touch on the five (5) fluencies.

Q.1.2 The way digital divide impact on social capital, and the ramifications thereof.

1.2 The way digital divide impact on social capital, and the ramifications thereof:

Social capital is a form of economic and cultural capital in which social networks are central, transactions are marked by reciprocity, trust and cooperation, and market agents produce goods and services not mainly for themselves, but for a common good.

It impact the countries negatively with less resources of having wide variety of accessing technology and being able to use the internet for education purpose and for accessing information. Countries with less technology resources are affected negatively and this have impact to the youth mostly because we are the people who are constantly growing with the technology – ‘Youth’. 

The politicians are quick to show us the divide between the races and between the social classes in our country. Maybe the other divide is the digital one. In an age where every person seems to have smart phone, we forget that maybe for some it is just for show. We forget that in reality there are still numerous illiterate persons, especially older people who don’t see the need for being socially connected online.

This creates a divide in societies and in generations. It creates a group of connected people and disconnected people. The disconnected ones don’t know what the fuss is about and the connected ones are of the opinion that the others are missing out.

Having a barrier such as this, can create friction. A child growing up in a disconnected household or even the community will see the connection a friend has and be unhappy that he/she doesn’t have the same. Friend will have access to much more information for school projects and when he/she is doing job research one day.

There will be a breakdown in collaboration between the different sides due to this divide. Luckily this can be overcome, as soon as everyone learns to celebrate their differences and acknowledge that each of them can still make a contribution.

The ones who have can always help the ones who don’t have. We need to make sure that no member of our society is left behind and this lead to “Ubuntu- one love, one heart and one nation; together we are one”, whether they are disconnected by choice or circumstance.