Introduction
The common theme that all five papers have is the concern over unequal access to resources, specifically digital technology. Some papers provided insight into the digital divide through the disadvantaged lens. The paper by Roberto Serrano is a reflection on modern digital conveniences that are frequently taken for granted.
Discussion
The personal experiences of Roberto and his family showcase that possession of computers and laptops is not as widespread as it is believed to be, while many people have no access to the Internet. A similar story is told in the paper by Aireanna Reposa who also experienced the deficit of modern means of communication. When she did acquire a laptop, it was not in optimal condition. The necessities of remote learning forced her to update her hardware and ponder the disadvantaged position of those who cannot afford it.
The authors of other papers were more fortunate and more shocked by the realities of the digital divide. Raising inequality awareness is a recurring theme in contemporary research (Lythreatis et al., 2021). The paper by Rose Davies is a reflection on the convenience of online learning and digital inequality that directly affects the academic performance of people with limited access to technology. The paper by Sydnie also addresses the correlation between digital inequality and digital illiteracy, which are perpetuated by universities, that increase tuition costs further worsening the divide. Inadequate tuition costs are also raised in the paper by Antiono, who argues that there is a significant bias towards well-off people in society, while the less advantaged population is unjustly treated.
Conclusion
Overall, all authors agree that the digital divide is a negative phenomenon, which harms society and has to be addressed.
Reference
Lythreatis, S., Singh, S. K., & El-Kassar, A. N. (2021). The digital divide: A review and future research agenda. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 175(121359), 1-15. Web.