Midterm Reflection

There are several themes that run through the material we have reviewed in this course, and they intertwine and relate to each other. Many factors tie into the digital divide, but two that stand out to me are the geopolitics of the physical internet and digital colonialism.

The digital divide can be widely described, but it is typically understood to mean poor (or no) access to the internet and/or no device (computer or smartphone) to access it. Reasons can vary, but there is strong correlation to poverty and location. Rural locations typically have limited connectivity options and speeds. Even when folks have connectivity and a device, they may lack the skill set, the digital literacy to make the most of those resources.

The geopolitics of the physical internet, at a 30,000 level, are controlled largely by nation states, but local access to those connections are controlled by companies that provide the backbone service. This typically precludes access for locations that do not offer a profit motive to those companies. For example, the town of Point Arena, California is the coastal termination of a high speed fiber connection to Japan. The town itself does not have a direct connection or reliable, widespread internet service (Burrington). 

Digital colonialism typically pits Western companies against folks in the Global South. Like old-school colonialism, Westerners make decisions for others, often without consulting them as to their actual needs, how they work, or how they use the internet and devices. For example, One Laptop Per Child planned a device to sell to countries in the Global South, without planning or accounting for connectivity, and few people can imagine using a computer today without that (Negroponte). In another example, Facebook planned its internet.org, later named Free Basics, where it partnered with local carriers in India and acted as a gatekeeper to content which would not count toward a customers data cap. Even though they promoted the service as a solution to provide basic access to poor people, the service was more popular with wealthier customers who already had access and wanted the free data allowance (LaFrance). 

Works Cited

Burrington, Ingrid. “Where the Cloud Rises From the Sea.” The Atlantic. Nov 12, 2015.

Facemire, Barbar. "Many colorful hands reaching for something together." Pixy.org. Creative Commons. Retrieved Oct 20, 2020. https://pixy.org/95689/

LaFrance, Adrienne. “Facebook and the New Colonialism.” The Atlantic. Feb 11, 2016.

Negroponte, Nicholas. “One Laptop per Child, two years on.” TED. Dec 2007. https://www.ted.com/talks/nicholas_negroponte_one_laptop_per_child_two_years_on

TheDigitalArtist. "Map Digital World." NeedPix.com. Public Domain. Retrieved Oct 20, 2020. https://www.needpix.com/photo/download/492625/map-digital-world-map-of-the-world-world-map-globe-free-pictures-free-photos-free-images