If we do not within a short timeframe achieve the goal of “every citizen online”, there is a very real risk of exacerbating already intractable problems of social exclusion. As public and private services increasingly “go online” and phase out traditional face-to-face or postal communications, there is a risk that more citizens, particularly the elderly will be unable to go about their day to day business in an independent way. In addressing digital inclusion, we are addressing the first digital divide.
At European level, there is a growing awareness of the emerging second digital divide, something we should now take cognisance of and take steps to mitigate. The second digital divide arises between those who have attained a high level of digital competence and who use a wide range of resources, tools and services in a high-speed fixed and/or mobile Internet environment and those who use the Internet at a very basic functional level Highly connected/networked persons/households are likely to have enhanced opportunities for education, work, leisure and overall quality of life. New forms of inequality may become manifest in a world that is intensely mediated through the Internet.
