The nude male sex videosdigital divide in education — a term that refers to the gap between students who do and don't have easy and reliable access to the internet and technology — looks different depending on who it affects.
Sometimes it's a kid squinting at a cellphone screen because they don't have a home computer, struggling to do their homework as their parents worry about the family data plan running out.
Other times, it's a student who's grown up with limited internet access, so they have trouble figuring out how to use the digital platforms they need in order to attend class remotely.
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Then there are the siblings who have to attend remote school at the same time, but the family only has one computer and a spotty WiFi connection.
Before COVID-19 hit, 30 percent of K-12 public school students lived in homes without internet connections or devices they could use for remote learning, according to an analysis of the most recent data, from 2018, from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.
But the pandemic has brought this issue into stark contrast, because some students have stable home internet and others don't, says Katrina Stevens, who worked on best practices in digital learning in the Obama administration and is president of The Tech Interactive, a family-friendly science and technology center.
The digital divide doesn't affect students equally.
In the U.S., one in three Indigenous, Black, and Latino families don't have access to high-speed internet at home. Only about 21 percent of white families lack this service, according to an analysis of 2018 data by the Alliance for Excellent Education, the National Indian Education Association, the National Urban League, and the Latino advocacy organization UnidosUS.
"And, when you look at the data on low-income students who are most at-risk, they are disproportionately students of color," says Keith Krueger, CEO of the Consortium for School Networking, which works to lessen technology access inequity in preK-12 schools.
Kids in rural areas can face different challenges — internet speeds might not allow for video streaming or conferencing, or they can't connect in the first place because the lines don't extend that far. And WiFi hotspots that rely on cellular networks, which some schools have deployed throughout the pandemic to help students with home internet access issues, may not be good options because the networks aren't as powerful as broadband.
Low-income families in urban areas can't always afford internet subscriptions, says Krueger. And the pandemic has forced some parents to choose between groceries and internet access for their children.
What's to blame for these realities? Stevens thinks we're delayed as a society in recognizing that equitable access to the internet and technology should be "an essential, rather than a nice thing to have."
Some politicians have taken up the mantle to try to alleviate the digital divide's toll on students during the pandemic. For example, a group of Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation in May that, if passed, wouldaim to give all K-12 students "adequate home internet connectivity and devices during the coronavirus pandemic."
Before COVID-19, 30 percent of K-12 public school students lived in homes without internet connections.
But regulation also gets in the way, says Stevens. Internet service providers are quite powerful politically. Often they exert their power by convincing state legislatures to prohibit local governments from setting up their own networks. In fact, 22 states have blocked or deterred municipalities from creating their own broadband networks.
These bans often restrict access to the internet for the people who need it the most.
"The state efforts to prohibit municipal broadband are driven by the existing telephone and cable companies who argue that it is unfair to have government-funded entities competing with them," says John Windhausen, executive director of the nonprofit Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, which works to close the digital divide by promoting broadband for schools, health clinics, libraries, and other community organizations.
The issue boils down to money. Telephone companies and cable internet service providers argue they may not get a return on their current and future investments if the government is allowed to compete with them.
"The problem with that argument is that there are millions of consumers that still do not have access to broadband — either because it is not available or not affordable. Municipal broadband is sometimes the only way to provide an affordable broadband service that can be built to serve everybody," he says.
If there's no internet access in your area andyour local government is prohibited from building its own network, Windhausen thinks community members should check in with with their local broadband and wireless providers to ask them to lower prices and expand the coverage area.
Digital redlining can also act as a roadblock. That's what happens when internet providers discriminate against low-income neighborhoods while they provide wealthier areas with better internet access. Telecommunications companies such as AT&T have been accused of redlining in cities like Cleveland and Dallas.
These are big problems, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution, because communities vary from one another. Further, the onus should really be on governments, internet providers, and organizations to solve this complicated issue, not you.
But, for people itching to help lessen the blow of the digital divide in their communities, there are some things you can do. Mashable spoke with Stevens and Krueger to get their recommendations.
1. Broadcast community resources
While it shouldn't be on you to solve the daunting problem that is the digital divide, you can take some steps to help your community become more easily connected.
Ask your school or city if they have maps that show where free and safe WiFi is accessible, suggests Stevens. "Safe" means it's both physically and digitally secure.
If your town has a community WiFi hotspot, it shouldn't be located in or near an unsafe area. But there are a few caveats there, says Stevens. "We should also be careful about what we label 'safe' and 'unsafe,'" she says. "We know communities of color are over-policed and that might skew higher crime statistics and give a false 'unsafe' label," she says.
"The most important way parents or community members with resources may be able to help is to start asking questions to local school and city officials," she says. For instance: Are there areas that the community feels would be safe for a hotspot? Does a WiFi hotspot make sense, and will it solve the problem, or would community-wide WiFi be an investment worth making? If that’s not financially feasible, would staffing a WiFi hotspot area, say outside a library, make the area feel more safe? Are there local organizations already doing this work that you could support and expand?
Since kids shouldn't have access to age-inappropriate content, also ask if there's a filter in place designed to weed out nefarious influences, the way parental WiFi controls do. Data should also be secure, so no one's online activities are vulnerable to bad actors like hackers.
Community WiFi systems often lack those elements, says Stevens. If yours does, request that they be incorporated. And if your town or city doesn't have maps indicating free and safe WiFi, request that they create them.
Don't forget about your local library or school as a resource. "A lot of schools and libraries allow you to check out devices and hotspots. Libraries particularly have been stepping into this space," says Stevens.
Remember: if your school or library loans your child an iPad, computer, or similar device, make sure they also give them the power cords to charge them. This might seem like a no-brainer. But, early on in the pandemic, Baltimore City Schools initially gave students Chromebook computers without cords, Stevens points out.
Note that if you have an extra device you want to give your child or donate to another student in place of a school loaner, it's probably best not to.
"Digital devices that are sent home from schools usually come equipped with software that protects student data and filters inappropriate content," explains Stevens. "...schools also often load specific digital programs for classroom use, so I recommend that students use the device provided by the school."
However, if you do have a loaner device on hand, or one you might donate, Stevens suggests checking with your local Boys & Girls Club, which provide after-school programs for young people, or other similar organizations to ask if their students need extra devices.
Once you gather information about what resources your community has, spread the word. This could be done through low-tech or no-tech ways, such as flyers, group texts, or calls.
2. Band together
There's a reason the phrase "there's power in numbers" is still in vogue. That's because it often works.
Gather together (at a safe distance, via phone, or virtually if possible) other parents and caregivers who are concerned about the toll the digital divide is having on their kids, or kids in the community. You'll want to learn about the specific challenges they're facing.
Compile those worries into an organized list to present to your local government so they understand the realities your specific community faces.
And don't forget about people's personal stories. Politicians really like data, but they also like stories, says Stevens. "Being able to say, 'Hey, this is what it takes for my kid to do their homework, here's what would be helpful.'"
Be as specific as you can with the stories you tell and the changes you want to see, because this will have the most impact, she says.
There may already be resources in place that your representatives can help you find. For example, in February, the Federal Communications Commission approved a program to subsidize broadband services at up to $50 a month for low-income households and up to $75 a month for households on Native American land. It also provides eligible households with a discount of up to $100 for a computer or tablet.
Collectively, you can also research organizations that are working to solve remote learning internet issues. For instance, EducationSuperHighway and EveryoneOn are two nonprofits that are expanding internet and technology access during the pandemic. If your school isn't already aware of EducationSuperHighway's initiative that allows school districts to buy broadband for students without, let them know. And EveryoneOn connects qualifying families with low-cost internet and computers.
3. Teachers and principals: Check in with students
If students aren't showing up to remote school, educators should find out why, says Krueger.
The digital divide could be to blame, or there might be a number of other factors, like depression, or childcare duties that have fallen to siblings, he says.
"Why aren't they showing up? You need that data," says Krueger.
You don't need internet to get this intel. You can text parents (Krueger says this can be a good way to reach low-income families) or call.
Once you know what the problem is, you can target your resources. For example, if there's an area with unreliable or zero internet access where many students live, look into whether your district can set up WiFi hotspots nearby.
If you want to be more proactive, consider mailing or distributing short surveys to better understand the challenges your students may face.
Stevens suggests making your questions fact-based and nonjudgmental, such as, "How many kids are in your household?" "How many devices are available in the household and what are they?" "Do you have internet access and, if so, how reliable is it?" EducationSuperHighway also has free resources to help make this process more effective.
These solutions all take some effort, and while it's not on individuals to make the larger, systemic changes, these smaller actions can help make the stress of the digital divide a little easier throughout the pandemic.
A future without any digital divide at all, however, is another question. "I think the needle has moved in the awareness of the problem," says Krueger. "We'll see whether as a country we have the long-term will to solve it."
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