This research project will document and analyze the emerging digital divide that extends beyond basic connectivity to encompass meaningful participation in the digital economy. Recent evidence suggests that a growing population of “barely online” users cannot effectively participate in digital spaces despite having nominal access, creating new forms of marginalization.[1]
Through rigorous mixed methods research, will be conducted in two representative communities, to;
- Map the specific barriers preventing meaningful digital participation, focusing on affordability challenges (data costs, device expenses), technical literacy gaps, and regulatory failures that limit equitable access.
- Identify existing community-based solutions and adaptation strategies that have emerged organically to overcome these barriers, documenting their effectiveness and limitations.
- Develop evidence-based policy recommendations and practical intervention frameworks that address the multidimensional nature of digital exclusion.
The project will result in a detailed research report with targeted recommendations for civil society organizations, policymakers, and community leaders. The findings will be translated into accessible formats, including an actionable solutions brief that organizations can immediately implement in their advocacy work.
By providing concrete evidence about the nature of this new digital divide and documenting effective interventions, our research will strengthen collective organizing efforts to ensure digital technologies enable rather than hinder social, gender, and environmental justice for all.
[1] Tabea Bork-Hüffer (2019). cON/FFlating spaces: On the intersections and conflation of our ONline and OFFline worlds. https://www.transient-spaces.org/blog/blog-con-fflating-spaces-on-the-intersections-and-conflation-of-our-online-and-offline-worlds/
