Understanding the COVID-19 Technology Gap
While some people read this blog post on their screen of choice in their well-stocked, socially distant homes, COVID-19 is amplifying the class and income disparities in our nation.
Technology is mirroring those disparities. Since places of education everywhere are switching to distance learning or homeschool, much of the learning material and instruction is now found online.
Most of the time, my biggest struggles with the online schooling process have been solved simply by disconnecting and reconnecting to the Wi-Fi. But for those who don’t live somewhere with a strong internet connection or for those who don’t have a personal computer, this can quickly become a nightmare.
This kind of inequality is broadening the gap in socioeconomic status (SES) in the U.S. When low-income students (many of whom are people of color) are unable to participate fully in the online learning provided by schools, they fall behind in academic development, furthering the discrepancies with students that come from higher-income families. This, in turn, provides higher-income (and largely white) students with the advantage of progressing with their studies at a faster pace. This translates to having more time to complete school with good grades and get into good colleges, or to finish college without encountering any major obstacles and entering into their choice of work more quickly.
Education moving online also poses challenges for parents whose children are not familiar with navigating technology. In these cases, some parents have to choose between going to work (and supporting their families through the economic crisis) and staying home to take care of their kids and help them understand their computers.
Moreover, the technology gap that students of lower SES face also puts them at higher risk of being exploited online. That can happen in many ways, from social media to internet ads to Craigslist. The extra time and potential unfamiliarity with technology make for a dangerous combination.
And let’s not forget about the vital resources like AA meetings and therapy sessions that are unable to continue in their in-person format. These meetings can certainly be adjusted with platforms like Facetime, Skype, and Zoom, but what about for those who are unfamiliar or do not have access to that kind of technology? The prospect of being holed up in isolation for these populations could ruin their lives.
Many people don’t have smartphones (or the money) to use apps like Instacart or Doordash in order to lessen their chances of being exposed to COVID-19, so they go out and do their grocery shopping themselves. They head to poorly stocked shelves with possibly no WIC options, and then leave empty-handed.
It’s important to talk about this--not so that those who have good Wi-Fi feel bad about it, but so we recognize the way that the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting those of differing SES. This technology gap, so obvious right now, can keep us aware of the things that we need to keep working on--both in quarantine and when we are able to return to “normal” life.
Some fintech (financial technology) companies are making an effort to alleviate this technology burden, and governments are trying to support those struggling with the online transitions. But this pandemic and subsequent technology gap is presenting a new way for us to see something that shouldn’t have been a problem in the first place.
It’s times like these that awaken us to injustices that we may have never noticed before. Now, it’s crucial for us to remain aware of the way that our world suffers from uncontrollable disasters. When we do this, we can change the obstacles in order to help everyone feel equipped and safe and that we’re all in this together.
About the Author
Michaela (Mikee) Parangalan is a Filipino midwestern gal pursuing English on the East Coast. She believes in the power of reading, aspiring to help others recognize the value of narratives in equipping us to better understand the world and become better people. In her free time she enjoys rock climbing, visiting art museums, or discovering whatever her next adventure might be.