Overview

Background and Thesis

The digital divide is both a local issue, faced by Florida State University (FSU) students, and a national issue. It challenges our ability to learn and pursue knowledge to our full capabilities. The digital divide affects students in urban and rural areas where internet access has not been prioritized.

We can look at the digital divide locally by analyzing how students are being left behind amid remote learning. FSU’s transition to remote learning affected many students who didn’t have access to the internet. These students were left with no alternative when it came to attending classes and completing assignments.  

More broadly, we saw many teachers in inner cities having to create alternative assignments for students facing the digital divide. Without basic access to internet services, many teachers terminated online classes to ensure no students had an unfair advantage in the classroom. It is of utmost importance when addressing these issues that we ensure students’ digital needs are satisfied. As all knowledge becomes digital, we must ensure that digital rights are human rights.