The Great Digital Divide – A research by the Capgemini Research Institute
The internet is no longer a “nice-to-have” tool; it is a “must-have” societal necessity. Being offline has significant social and economical implications, from social exclusion to limited career opportunities, and can mean people are unable to access public services, as governments increasingly move services online.
The Capgemini Research Institute shows how the collaboration from private organisations, governments, NGOs, non-profits, academia, private organisations and policymakers have to come together to educate people about the value of the internet and how to stay safe online and to make the internet, devices, and online public services more accessible to marginalised communities. If the public and private sectors fail to work effectively together, the digital divide will continue to create inequalities across the world.
The Capgemini Research Institute published a comprehensive research, the The Great Digital Divide: Why bringing the digitally excluded online should be a global priority exploring four key themes:
- Why are people offline?
- What are the consequences of being offline?
- Why is the offline population keen to access the Internet?
- How can organisations support greater digital inclusion?
The report can be downloaded here.