Digital inclusion is a very important topic in today’s world that is constantly being digitized at
every turn. The ability of all individuals to access and effectively use digital technologies is the
basis of digital inclusion. In a world where everything is becoming digital, having access to and
the skills to use digital technologies will have a significant effect on the socioeconomic health of
communities and individuals. In this essay we will discuss how and why digital inclusion is
important and a positive influence on socioeconomic health in all populations, using various
sources to support this argument.
First and foremost, digital inclusion is a positive thing because it allows individuals to have
access to information. In this day and age, information is power and those who have access to it
or more likely to make well-informed decisions in all facets of their life. Some good examples
would be for researching job opportunities, information regarding medicine or medical care, and
online education, all of which can help boost your socioeconomic status. According to the World
Economic Forum, which examined the role of information and communication technologies in
driving innovation, a few key points can be taken away. Those are that digital access and use
can enhance human capital, stimulate innovation, and improve access to markets, services, and
social networks (WEF, 2016).
Another reason why digital inclusion is a positive thing is because it allows for more social
Mobility. social Mobility is the ability to move preferably up in your socioeconomic standing.
there are many barriers in the way of social Mobility for many people. many of these barriers
stem from a lack of access to information in the form of education or job opportunities. digital
inclusion is a vital part of breaking down these barriers by allowing people access to online
education search engines for job openings and training for whatever job they may desire.
Having education and skills can help you acquire higher-paying jobs and improve your
socioeconomic status. In an article written by Helen Milner OBE, Chief Executive of The Good
Things Foundation, she states that "Digital presents a huge opportunity to overcome some of
the challenges of social mobility. We know that if you have no basic digital skills, you’re at a
disadvantage in today’s world. You’ll struggle to search and apply for jobs, create a CV, and to
keep progressing within the workplace. "(Milner 2019).
The third reason digital inclusion is beneficial is that it can improve access to healthcare which
includes information regarding medicine, personal health, and recommended guidelines set by
government agencies regarding public health. The last portion of that is particularly notable
given recent events around the world regarding covid-19, having access to multiple sources of
information allows you as an individual to vet this information and make the most well-informed
decisions you can. Beyond Information you can access via the internet, telemedicine is also a
vital portion of digital inclusion when talking about healthcare. the ability to provide individuals
with access to remote medical consultations and medical tools can be particularly beneficial for
individuals who have disabilities that make it hard to move around or who live in remote areas.
A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that "Residents of rural and isolated
areas are frequently faced with limited medical resources within reasonable driving
distance/time, whereas many residents of the inner city have limited access to medical
resources for economic reasons. It is important that a large and growing segment of the
population suffers from chronic diseases and can benefit from improved spatial–temporal
access to health resources while trying to manage their health as best they can in their own
homes." (Bashshur et al., 2014).
Digital inclusion also has the beneficial effect of promoting economic growth. In this everevolving world, a large percentage of businesses rely heavily or solely on digital Technologies to
operate, customers as well are becoming more attuned to using digital technology to interact
with businesses and make purchases. if you are not using digital technologies in your business
practices you could potentially be losing out on lots of revenue. not only can online tools for
brick-and-mortar businesses and online businesses generate income but they can also create
jobs for others within the economy. The McKinsey Global Institute found that "Today, a more
digital form of globalization has opened the door to developing countries, to small companies
and start-ups, and to billions of individuals." (McKinsey, 2016).
The last benefit that we will discuss regarding digital inclusion is the promotion of civic
engagement. In many communities, there is a lack of participation in politics on the local, state,
and national levels. Digital platforms can provide people with the ability to participate in civil
political discourse to voice their concerns and opinions. Having more ways for individuals to
participate in the discussion allows for decisions to be made with the needs and wants of
everyone in the discussion considered. In a study done by Shelley Boulianne, associate
professor in sociology at MacEwan University, and Yannis Theocharis, a professor of
communications and media at eMKI, Centre for Media, Communication and Information
Sciences, they stated that “New technologies raise fears in public discourse. In terms of digital
media use and youth, the advice has been to monitor and limit access to minimize the negative
impacts. However, this advice would also limit the positive impacts of digital media. One such
positive impact is increased engagement in civic and political life.." (Boulianne & Theocharis
2019).
To sum It all up, digital inclusion is beneficial for the socioeconomic health of individuals in a
multitude of ways. whether that be through improved social Mobility, healthcare, economic
growth, or civic engagement, it’s clear that digital inclusion has a large impact on our daily lives.
Ensuring that everyone in a society has access to these digital technologies and knowledge of
how to use them will allow people to gain the skills and knowledge they need to create a better
life for themselves and a more equitable and successful society for everyone.
Bibliography
1. World Economic Forum. (2016). The Global Information Technology Report
2016: Innovating in the Digital Economy. Retrieved from
https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-information-technology-report-2016
2. Digital Agenda. (2018, February 8). Digital and the Opportunities for Driving
Social Mobility. Retrieved from https://digitalagenda.io/insight/digital-and-theopportunities-for-driving-social-mobility/
3. Bashshur RL, Shannon GW, Smith BR, Alverson DC, Antoniotti N, Barsan
WG, Bashshur N, Brown EM, Coye MJ, Doarn CR, Ferguson S, Grigsby J,
Krupinski EA, Kvedar JC, Linkous J, Merrell RC, Nesbitt T, Poropatich R,
Rheuban KS, Sanders JH, Watson AR, Weinstein RS, Yellowlees P. The
empirical foundations of telemedicine interventions for chronic disease
management. Telemed J E Health. 2014 Sep;20(9):769-800. doi:
10.1089/tmj.2014.9981. Epub 2014 Jun 26. PMID: 24968105; PMCID:
PMC4148063. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4148063/
4. McKinsey Global Institute. (2016). Digital globalization: The new era of global
flows.https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/digitalglobalization-the-new-era-of-global-flows
5. Boulianne, S., & Theocharis, Y. (2020). Young People, Digital Media, and
Engagement: A Meta-Analysis of Research. Social Science Computer Review,
38(2), 111–127. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439318814190