“It is dangerously destabilising to have half the world on the cutting edge of technology while the other half struggles on the bare edge of survival” – Bill Clinton

We live in a time when the internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity. However, now more than ever, the ‘digital divide’ – i.e. the gap between those who have access to technology, the internet, and digital literacy training and those who do not – is becoming more apparent. 

The Sunday Morning Brunch spoke to Dr. Kaushalya Mendis and Dr. Roshan Hewapathirana, who are experts in health informatics, to gain insight into this relatively new but unavoidable phenomenon. 

What is the digital divide? 

The digital divide, in essence, describes the disparities in the access and use of digital technologies. 

The term first gained popularity back in 1995, when the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the US published a report titled ‘Falling through the net: The story of the ‘have nots’ in rural America’. 

This was a nationwide survey that studied digital access and associated socio-demographic factors. This report established the term ‘digital divide’ as the difference between those with access to new technologies and those without access.

Initially, the term primarily referred to disparities in internet access, says Dr. Mendis. However, over time it grew to encompass a wide range of issues which varied from the disparities of access, digital literacy, use, impact, and the disparities created in society because of using digital technologies for social and economic development.

This led to the gradual realisation that addressing the digital divide is far more complex than merely striving for infrastructure development to ensure access to digital technology.

The term gradually gained traction and has evolved to become one of the leading civil rights topics worldwide. While definitions have been numerous and contextual in most cases, academics from different specialties, ranging from social sciences to information technology and economics, have tried to develop the philosophical basis upon which further studies could be conducted.

Peeling back the layers of inequality

There are layers of complexities associated with the definition and it is often described in several stages. It’s important to note that these ‘divides’ aren’t clear-cut distinctions; they exist along a spectrum between ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’.

In essence, understanding the digital divide means delving into these intricate layers of inequality in the digital age, says Dr. Mendis. 

• The Access Gap: This is often referred to as the ‘first-level divide’. It is essentially about who has access to digital technology and who doesn’t. In the early days, this was the primary focus. When people hear ‘digital divide,’ access is often the first thing that comes to mind.

• The Use Gap: Having access doesn’t mean everyone uses technology the same way. Differences in skills, motivation, and emotions come into play. This leads to what we call the ‘second-level divide’. How people use technology varies widely.

• The Utility Gap: Beyond individual usage, there’s the societal impact of digital technologies. This is the ‘third-level divide’. It reflects disparities in the offline world caused by digital technology. These disparities can worsen the first and second-level divides, creating a troubling cycle.

• Vertical and Horizontal Divides: Some literature talks about a ‘vertical divide’ and a ‘horizontal divide’. The ‘dual digital divide’ concept acknowledges that there can be multiple barriers between users and non-users.

How does the digital divide affect women?

Access to digital technology is often limited for women; this includes internet connectivity, computers, smartphones, and various devices.

In Sri Lanka, the overall digital literacy rate, which represents the percentage of the population between five to 69 years old capable of using a smart device or computer independently, stands at 57.2%. However, these figures are notably lower for women. 

Specifically, the computer literacy rate, defined as the percentage of the population within the same age range capable of using a computer independently, is 34.3%, with even lower rates among women. 

In 2021, male computer literacy in Sri Lanka was 36.1%, compared to 32.6% for females. Similarly, digital literacy rates were 54.5% for females and 60.3% for males during the same year, says Dr. Hewapathirana.

In many societies, cultural norms and economic constraints act as barriers, restricting women’s access to technology. Consequently, women tend to have lower rates of device ownership and connectivity. 

Additionally, women often encounter challenges related to digital literacy and technical skills due to limited opportunities for education and training in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This lack of skill can impede their effective use of digital tools, navigating online spaces, and fully participating in the digital economy. 

Women are also more likely to face online harassment, cyberbullying, and privacy violations, creating obstacles to their online engagement. Concerns regarding safety and security may discourage women from participating in online activities or freely expressing themselves, exacerbating the gender-based digital divide, explains Dr. Mendis.

How does it affect urban women?

Sri Lanka has made strides in gender equity compared to other countries in the region, but when it comes to digital literacy, the available data indicates that women still lag behind men. 

While some argue that women’s usage of digital technology in Sri Lanka is not far behind, this might oversimplify the situation since there is no data on the ‘horizontal digital divide,’ which refers to the disparities among female users in Sri Lanka.

A study was conducted to investigate how the digital divide affects urban women’s access to and use of health information within the State’s preventive health programme in Sri Lanka. The aim was to provide recommendations for improving healthcare access and utilisation among urban women. This research took place in two phases.

In the first phase, it examined how urban women accessed healthcare information and how various aspects of the digital divide impacted them. The study collected data from women attending public health clinics in the Colombo Municipal Council area using USAID’s Gender and ICT tool. 

The second phase involved conducting qualitative interviews with experts in the field to brainstorm strategies for reducing the impact of the digital divide.

Fascinating insights: Connected yet disconnected

Let’s dive into some intriguing findings of this research. While a whopping 96.4% of the population owns a mobile phone, there’s an interesting twist. Nearly 28.7% of them have traditional feature phones that cannot connect to the internet and a small 1.8% do not own any mobile phone at all. Virtually everyone can make and receive calls on their mobiles, with around 69.5% comfortably accessing the internet and 65% smoothly using messaging apps like WhatsApp and Viber.

What’s particularly noteworthy is that many urban women rely on mobile phones for internet access throughout the day, rarely turning to computers or laptops. For those who do use mobile internet, it is predominantly for social messaging (think WhatsApp and Viber) and social media, followed by entertainment activities like listening to music.

Surprisingly, when it comes to seeking trustworthy health information, non-digital methods like consulting a family doctor or MOH field staff top the list. Even conventional sources like television outrank modern digital avenues for health information.

What’s keeping some from diving into the digital world? 

The main concerns are the cost of devices and services, language barriers, family attitudes, and safety worries. The primary barrier to getting a mobile phone, using mobile internet, or accessing a computer or laptop boils down to the financial burden associated with device purchase and service charges. There are also reservations about device recharging, possibly influenced by high electricity costs.

The digital divide among urban women in Colombo may appear narrow at the first level, but it becomes more apparent at the second level, says Dr. Mendis.

What are the findings from the second phase of the study?

Many perceive Colombo as an affluent city, especially in terms of connectivity, compared to other urban and rural areas in the country. While there are marginalised populations within the city, the general view of Colombo’s population is that they’re digitally connected and ready for digital transformation.

Interestingly, most experts believe that gender isn’t a significant factor in the digital divide, especially among younger women. However, they tend to focus on the ‘access’ aspect (the first-level divide) and don’t seem to grasp the significant ‘utility gap’ (the second-level gap) evident in the ground-level data, says Dr. Hewapathirana. 

Pursuing a paradigm shift

This study underscores the need for technical experts’ commitment to developing and implementing client-focused interventions that are accessible, user-friendly, and impactful to bridge the digital divide. 

Perhaps the most crucial insight is the necessity for a strategic framework guiding policy, governance, and leadership to narrow this divide, thus enabling universal health coverage and empowering urban women. 

These interventions align closely with digital development principles and aim to support the country’s journey towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, focusing on good health and well-being.

While conventional interventions such as infrastructure development, capacity building, and investments remain vital, there’s a call for more extensive work at the highest levels of policy and strategy. These strategic interventions urge policymakers to adopt a broader perspective, focusing on building a healthy nation, empowering citizens, and fostering inclusive digital development.

Political leadership plays a pivotal role in driving this transformation, guiding policies, promoting collaboration, establishing legal frameworks, ensuring diversity, and reforming existing systems and protocols. Advocacy is recognised as a significant tool in overcoming the digital divide, waiting to be fully harnessed at all levels, from political leadership to grassroots healthcare.

Implementing a comprehensive strategy can reshape and fortify existing social structures, empowering urban women to lead a positive paradigm shift in the provision of State sector preventive healthcare. 

(The writer, MBBS, MSc, MCGP, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Anatomy Genetics and Biomedical Informatics of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo) 

Ministry of Health Senior Registrar of Health Informatics Dr. Kaushalya Mendis

University of Colombo Faculty of Medicine Department of Medical Technology Senior Lecturer Dr. Roshan Hewapathirana