Digital Brouhaha
I can’t believe people are still talking about the digital divide, y’all — for realz!
Back in the early aughts, organizations that served communities—communities otherwise delegated to the margins—kicked off funding efforts to get their “populations” access to ever advancing and “essential” technology. People feared a generation might go through life lacking proficiency with computers, smartphones, the internet, and all the exigent shit more privileged folks have. I mean, heaven forbid, right?
I’m not a very skeptical person. Many would describe me as a sap—a downright mark. Approached with a personal story (sob or inspirational) or a good cause, I’m a true believer—I’m all in. I’m the person who nearly joined a cult, remember? I may play devil’s advocate, but I’m not naturally inclined to be a cynic just for the sake of cynicism. In my mature years, I’ve come to loathe contempt prior to investigation.
That shifts when large sums of cash are involved. This is the case with multimillion dollar not-for-profit outfits (and I ain’t talking fashion). At extremes, I think the whole thing is a racket to sell poor people to rich people—people whose poverty make all that wealth possible. The wealthy demonstrate their concern (not remorse) by funding programs to aid the less fortunate.
A condition of privileged generosity is that those funders then get to decide what causes are worthy of their money. Not-for-profits then must song and dance for grants to continue serving, while getting to prioritize who gets served. I am aware I’m speaking from the position of a not-for-profit manager who has participated in the charade.
Tech companies are subsidized by taxpayer dollars via money donated to ensure even under-resourced households have flat screens and smartphones. We could instead be aiming for less tech dependence. In “Tools for Conviviality” Ivan Illich makes the argument for maintaining technology standards (including low-tech and no tech) that don’t automatically disenfranchise people who opt not to be so cutting edge. That’s the conversation I wanna see pop off. Might we fund a way to get free from our iPhones, please?
