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Digital Inclusion of Low-Literate Adults: Challenging the Sequential Underpinnings of the Digital Divide
[conference paper]
This document is a part of the following document:
Proceedings of the Weizenbaum Conference 2022: Practicing Sovereignty - Interventions for Open Digital Futures
Corporate Editor
Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society - The German Internet Institute
Abstract Contemporary models of digital inclusion and the digital divide assume that developing the digital literacy that enables individuals to participate in society is a sequential and linear process that is more or less similar for all individuals in all contexts and requires basic linguistic skills. Thi... view more
Contemporary models of digital inclusion and the digital divide assume that developing the digital literacy that enables individuals to participate in society is a sequential and linear process that is more or less similar for all individuals in all contexts and requires basic linguistic skills. This paper challenges these understandings, arguing that such a technical, normative perspective excludes marginalized and disadvantaged publics, such as low-(digital) literate citizens. Based on a longitudinal ethnographic study of low-literate Dutch adults, we show that the often-described causal relation between (digital) literacies, (digital) participation, and (digital) inclusion is not as evident as it seems and neglects the important socio-cultural contexts through which (digital) literacies are often gained and enacted in everyday practice. Consequently, we argue that current conceptualizations of (digital) inclusion and (digital) participation need to be rethought in terms of the limitations, potential, and capabilities of low-literate people.... view less
Keywords
digitalization; digital divide; participation; inclusion; competence; deprivation
Classification
Sociology of Science, Sociology of Technology, Research on Science and Technology
Free Keywords
digital inclusion; digital literacies
Collection Title
Proceedings of the Weizenbaum Conference 2022: Practicing Sovereignty - Interventions for Open Digital Futures
Editor
Herlo, Bianca; Irrgang, Daniel
Conference
4. Weizenbaum Conference "Practicing Sovereignty: Interventions for Open Digital Futures". Berlin, 2022
Document language
English
Publication Year
2023
City
Berlin
Page/Pages
p. 72-84
ISSN
2510-7666
Status
Primary Publication; reviewed