background

One of the consequences with the rise of digital advancements is the division of accessibility, inclusivity, and affordability. In the U.S., approximately 75 million people do not have access to the Internet, and approximately 13% of adult Americans have access to the Internet only through Smartphones.  These statistics are aligned with the income inequalities present in the U.S.  As of 2015, 37% of adult Americans who have access to Smartphones but not broadband earn incomes less than $50,000. These adults are not the only population affected by the inaccessibility of broadband Internet.  School children are also significantly affected by the lack of broadband Internet.* 82.5% of households with school aged children lack access to broadband Internet service. The digital divide is real and its progression is a hinderance the education of more than half of children in the U.S., among many other populations affected, which consequently contributes to the widened gap of the middle class we are seeing in the U.S. today.

*I highly recommend taking time to view Without A Net: The Digital Divide In America (also located in the Digital Divide videos section) in its entirety.