The Global Paradox of Digital Divides in a Shrinking Village

Gabriel McCoard discusses the duality of how the evolution of information and communications technologies (ICTs) has resulted both in greater connectedness (the “global village”) and greater inequalities in access to that connectedness (the digital divide). The paper examines some of the root causes for this current state, and some of the various efforts that have been made to address the disconnect. Ultimately, the idea of a “global village” certainly exists, but the author asks how much of the world is included in that village, and whether the village is the same one for everyone.