Globalization through the Digital Divide

In today's world, the internet is a necessity. Without instant access to information, people will be ill-informed. The need for the internet is as potent as ever. Today, there is over two feet of snow on the ground in the District, making it impossible for people like me to go out and get newspapers to read about what is happening in the country and in the area. Cable is struggling as well, leaving me with only one reliable source of information: the internet. My neighbor's roof just collapsed; they live right next to me. I found this out by searching the web and looking for any information about the snowstorm in my area. Without this knowledge, I wouldn't have alerted the firemen outside to check my house to see if our house is next. Luckily, our house has a good foundation, but I can't say the same for my poor neighbor next door.

Because of things like this, the internet needs to be easily accessible to everyone across the world. The cable could be out, and conditions could be too bad to get a newspaper or something, so the internet is the only reliable source of information. The snowstorm in the District is nothing compared to some of the situations happening around the world. Just take a look at the impoverished Haiti, that suffered from a massive earthquake and killed many thousands of people. There is no power there, nor is there opportunity to get news other than talking amongst one another. How can these people communicate with family members to let them know they are okay?

The digital divide, meaning the gap between those that are privy to the internet and those that aren't, has definitely improved the global trafficking of knowledge across the world and helped countries connect with one another. However, we as a human race are nowhere near a suitable comfort zone in the digital divide. The people who can't afford the internet or simply don't have access to it are way behind the 8 ball. The internet isn't just a source of information; it is an integral part of our daily lives. We need the internet to survive.

The creation of the internet has definitely made the flow of information easier and more accessible, but the flow cannot stop here. It must continue to grow and bridge the gap of the digital divide. I'd like to think that the internet is the first major step in global peace, or, at least, global stability. If everyone had access to the internet, we would be able to help each other out, exchange important information, and contact our loved ones in case of an emergency. I'm no expert on Haiti, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that internet availability hasn't been the primary goal of the Haitian government for the past 30 years. I read in a paper the other day that a local man from the district has still not made contact with his family from Haiti. With internet access, they could reach each other. And even if his family is unavailable, he should still be able to find out information about his area or keep up conversations with his neighbors. Bridging the gap of the digital divide is a beautiful theory; now, it needs to become a reality.