Bridging the Digital Divide

Think

The Digital Divide has many interrelated causes and consequences. Try categorizing the examples below.

Can you see how some of the consequences of the digital divide could exacerbate its causes, creating cycles of digital inequity?

Where do you think you are positioned on the Digital Divide?

To learn more about how issues of digital (in)equity relate to your own experiences, take our quiz, On Which End of the Digital Divide are You?.

Explore

What is the Digital Divide?

“The Digital Divide” is the gap between people and communities who are able to access and use digital technologies and resources and those who can’t. With critical services increasingly offered online, barriers to effective internet use and access cut segments of our population off from important resources and services, often reinforcing existing inequities.

Dimensions of Digital (In)Equity

Many factors and barriers contribute to the digital divide. They can be categorized based on four main dimensions:

1. Digital Literacy: Digital literacy skills allow users to effectively and safely use digital devices and navigate the internet. If you have digital literacy skills, digitization of services like banking or healthcare is convenient and improves your access. If you don’t however, increasing digitization of services cuts you off from critical services that you need. In some communities, fewer people have digital literacy skills to share with others, which reinforces differences in digital equity and access along cultural and geographical lines.
   • Technical Skills: The internet cannot be accessed effectively by users who can’t operate digital equipment and navigate software tools and platforms.
   • Security and Comfort Levels: To be comfortable online, users need to be able to protect their sensitive information, recognize and respond to security threats, and judge the validity of websites and online material. Concerns around security can prevent older adults in particular from feeling comfortable online, preventing them from developing their digital skills.
2. Affordability: People with low-income face several challenges in accessing the internet, creating a digital divide between socio-economic groups.
   • Device Affordability: For many Canadians, buying a new phone or computer is a significant financial hurdle. Planned obsolescence means device lifespans are getting shorter, and electronics are often difficult or expensive to repair.
   • Internet Plan Affordability: Low-income households may struggle to afford internet plans, depending on public WiFi, or settling for slow or interrupted services.
3. Diverse and Accessible Online Content: The online world is not always representative of diverse cultural groups and viewpoints.
   • Language Barriers: For non-English speakers, navigating an anglogentric internet, where many online services are provided only in English, is a significant challenge.
   • Accessibility of Online Content: People with disabilities may face barriers navigating inaccessible online resources or using electronic devices.
   • Lack of relevant content: Some groups, like new immigrants and older adults, report a lack of online resources and materials that are culturally sensitive or relevant to them.
4. Availability: In some geographical regions, gaps in reliable high speed internet infrastructure can affect entire communties. In Canada, half of the households in First Nations communities, and 42% of households in northern communities lack basic service.

Cycles of Digital Inequity

Vulnerable groups can face several of the the barriers listed above, which compound upon on each other and upon broader systemic inequities. For example, Indigenous communities may lack reliable broadband infrastructure and face systemic socioeconomic barriers. As a result, many people in these communities are unable to access online learning opportunities, use digital healthcare resources and participate in the digital economy. These consequences exacerbate existing socioeconomic barriers and gaps in digital literacy, creating a cycle of digital inequity.

Links

Understanding the Canadian Digital Divide:

• Ian Scott, 2024 | Conquering the Next Frontier in Bridging the Digital Divide
• Canadian Center for Nonprofit Digital Resiliance, 2025 | Bridging the digital divide: A strategic vision for Canada’s nonprofit sector
• Raihan et al., 2024 | Dimensions and barriers for digital (in)equity and digital divide: a systematic integrative review

Bridging the Divide

Across the country, many government initiatives, not-for-profits and community groups take different approaches to bridging the digital divide.

Examples of initiatives to bridge the divide through affordable, repairable electronics:

• Right to Repair policies encourage the development of durable, repairable electronics.
• FreeGeek provides free electronic repair and teaches repair skills.
• SPEC runs free commmunity-based repair events.
• Reboot Canada distributes refurbished electronics to communities in need.
• RCT Outreach Program helps individuals and families access affordable devices.

Examples of initiatives that provide digital literacy education:

• BC Digital Literacy Hub provides free online digital literacy resources.
• Many public libraries (including TPL and VPL) offer computer skills courses and tech help.
• The UBC Learning Exchange offers free drop-in tech help and computer courses.
• The Little Mountain Neighborhood House offers free in person computer classes.
• The Riverdale Immigrant Women’s Center offers digital skills mentorship programs and workshops to seniors.
• The Rexdale Community Health Center runs a digital literacy club.

Examples of initiatives closing gaps in Internet access:

• The Government of Canada’s Connecting Families Initiative provides discounted Internet services for eligible families.
• The CRTC Broadband Fund funds the development of new Internet infrastructure.
• The Vancouver Community Network offers free public wifi and computer stations.

Discuss

As digital citizens, we can all contribute to bridging the digital divide! Here are some questions to reflect on and ways for you to take concrete action:

• Look Close to Home: On what end of the digital divide are you? Do you know anyone on the other end of the divide? Can you think of any examples of when a lack of digital access or ability to participate in online life affected you or the people you know?
• Reflect on Social Context: What factors do you think contribute to your current ability (or inability) to effectively access and navigate online resources? Consider how your educational history, your geographical location, your socioeconomic position, whether you are part of a marginalized community, and your other lived experiences.
• Act Local: What concrete steps are you taking (or could you take) to help bridge the digital divide for yourself or people in your local community? Are there any local organizations working to bridge the divide near you?
• Think Big-Picture: In addition to community-based initiatives, policy and governance changes play an important role in bridging the digital divide at a large scale. Are there any particular policies or government-led initiatives that you would advocate for?

What do you think? Tell us using the comment below.