I believe that the diagram presented by Siek covers the core purpose and benefits of digital literacy, which could change the way in which individuals use technology., I also believe that it highlights some of the aspects that we use every day, such as education. One component that was mentioned that I think would be an important element for social workers, specifically, would be the neighborhood and physical environment, as well as the community and social context. From a social worker’s point of view, it aligns with their goal, which is to familiarize themselves with resources that could benefit their clients, as well as become involved in community actions.
I think the framework presented by Siek is efficient in describing the impact of the digital divide. Rather than showing one purpose of technology or using one way in which technology can be used, Siek shows how technology can impact different populations such as neighborhoods and the environment which tailors to social workers gathering resources, to healthcare, which tailors to systems used by doctors to host appointments with their clients, provide records, etc, to education, which is utilized by institutions and students. I would not say it’s a digital divide but more so a digital diversity, as Siek has shown how technology can flourish in core environments.
In Sanders and Scanlon’s article on why the digital divide is a social justice one area that I believed was impactful was the educational aspects. They argued that in this area, individuals in rural areas (52 % to be exact) who lacked a high school diploma did not interact with the internet, compared to 59% from urban areas. This shows the digital divide in the suburban and rural areas, which is accurate, as individuals would be more likely to utilize the internet for resources that they could access in their neighborhood, compared to rural neighborhoods, which may not have as many resources or educational opportunities as an individual residing in urban areas.
One of the approaches that was mentioned to address the digital divide that I believe t wold be effective was identifying the target population. iIn this approach they were advocacy appeared to be interacting with government officials who may have the power to provide the population with internet access. i believe taht this would be effectiive especially in the digital divide amongst the rural and urban areas whch may be because Suburban users may have more access to the internet s oppose to rural users. One of the suggestions however thta does not seem realistic would be overcoming digital divide. The authors themselves mentioned that to do this they would have to get everyone on board with the use of technology (the information age) and there may be some populations that may not be inclined or persuaded enough to utilize technology such as the elderly population due to the learning curve that it can bring.. In Criag/s article the element of utilizing Telehealth to assist the youth population in cognitive behavioral therapy is effective. The author has stated the impact of utilizing Telehealth amongst youths such as the impactful intervention done through the clinical support hat the clients have received.
Hey Gemalli, You brought up some really good insights about Sieck’s framework, especially your point about neighborhoods and community context. I hadn’t thought about how much that connects to the role of social workers and their responsibility to stay aware of local resources. It’s true that technology can strengthen those community ties when it’s used to share information or connect clients with help more efficiently.
I also like how you reframed the term “digital divide” as “digital diversity.” That’s such an interesting way to look at it, it shifts the focus from what people lack to the different ways technology can show up and benefit various populations. Your examples about how digital access impacts education, healthcare, and community life made that point really clear.
The statistics you mentioned from Sanders and Scanlon about rural versus urban internet use also stood out to me. It shows how the divide is about location, opportunity, and infrastructure. And I agree with you about the challenge of closing the divide completely, especially when some populations, like older adults, may not feel comfortable with technology. Overall, you did a great job showing how each article connects back to the broader goal of inclusion and accessibility.
I love your picture as it was a true depiction of how I felt when I first back in school and during the pandemic for my daughters. I like your term of “digital diversity” as it provides a positive aspect and view on what we should focus on and how we can provide solutions. It’s always a great way to connect with others by providing some positive feedback. I also liked your perspective on how the authors suggested getting everyone on board with solving the digital divide issues and how the very use of the information age, still provides a divide for those who do not have access. I must admit that I am still in disbelief that there are individuals, families, and certain populations who lack internet connectivity and also the literacy to conduct task on different digital platforms. This is definitely an issue that social workers and professionals in the social services field should advocate for the “digital diversity” and continue to work together as a community.
I really like how you broke this down — especially your point about Siek’s framework showing digital diversity rather than just a digital divide. That’s a thoughtful way to look at it, as it shifts the focus from limitation to opportunity, showing how technology can adapt to different social contexts rather than separate them.
I also agree with your observation about the neighborhood and community context being especially relevant for social workers. Understanding how technology connects people to local resources and services is essential for effective practice. You made a strong connection between digital literacy and the social worker’s role in bridging access gaps for their clients.