Disconnected and Invisible World: Research Challenges and Opportunities to Mitigate Digital Inequality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5753/compbr.2025.53.5586Keywords:
Digital divide, Meaningful connectivityAbstract
Did you know that one-third of the world's population remained offline in 2023? Or that, during the pandemic, two-thirds of school-age children worldwide did not have access to the internet? Although superlative and worrying, these numbers unfortunately reveal very little about the existence of a truly "disconnected and invisible world". Socioeconomic, cultural, and educational disparities, among others, also affect a significant portion of the world's population who, despite having access to digital technologies and the internet, face great difficulties in their daily digital lives. In this report, we discuss some of the reasons for the existence of this disconnected and invisible world, and list challenges and opportunities for research in Computing to mitigate digital exclusion and inequality and promote digital inclusion in regions in need.
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