Reflective Post #2 - Global Divide on Local Level - Seattle
Global Divide on Local Level - Seattle
Of the topics covered in the last few units, what really caught my attention was looking at the digital divide within the United States. While the issue of the digital divide is indeed a global issue, it was interesting to consider how it might affect the population closer to home, as discussed in the accompanying lecture (Hagar, 2019), so I took a look at how it affects my local community of Seattle, WA.
A study done by the city in 2018 study found that 95% of homes in Seattle are connected to the internet. However, looking closer at the numbers as they related to income found that 99% of households with an income over $50,000 per year had internet but that number dropped to 79% when household income dropped below $25,000 (City of Seattle, 2018). While the overall number of households with internet access was up from their 2014 study, in which 85% of households had internet access, the study still brought to light stark differences in internet access such as low education, low income, or minority status showing a tendency to have less internet access (City of Seattle, 2018). Considering the debate about whether global inequalities are rising or declining (Firebaugh & Goesling, 2007), it was interesting to see that, on a local level at least for me, the digital divide seems to be doing both. While the overall number of households with income has grown on average, there are certain factors that are deepening the divide. The City of Seattle mentioned some upcoming projects, such as a Technology Matching Fund and public information campaigns (City of Seattle, 2018), which will be interesting to keep an eye on and see how they make a difference on the digital divide.
Resources:
City of Seattle. (2018). Technology access and adoption study. Retrieved from https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5756792-City-of-Seattle-IT-Technical-Report-v17b.h
tml
Firebaugh, G. & Goesling, B. (2007). Globalization and global inequalities. In G.Ritzer (Ed.), Blackwell companion to globalization (pp. 549-564) Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Hagar, C. (2019). Global divide [file format]. Retrieved from https://sjsu.zoom.us/recording/play/IY248___oSy453ZMD8FLS7zIm-FMmF-H5EzWAiaX-SVQn9UxxhY11LL0p3QMq_N7?continueMode=true
Of the topics covered in the last few units, what really caught my attention was looking at the digital divide within the United States. While the issue of the digital divide is indeed a global issue, it was interesting to consider how it might affect the population closer to home, as discussed in the accompanying lecture (Hagar, 2019), so I took a look at how it affects my local community of Seattle, WA.
A study done by the city in 2018 study found that 95% of homes in Seattle are connected to the internet. However, looking closer at the numbers as they related to income found that 99% of households with an income over $50,000 per year had internet but that number dropped to 79% when household income dropped below $25,000 (City of Seattle, 2018). While the overall number of households with internet access was up from their 2014 study, in which 85% of households had internet access, the study still brought to light stark differences in internet access such as low education, low income, or minority status showing a tendency to have less internet access (City of Seattle, 2018). Considering the debate about whether global inequalities are rising or declining (Firebaugh & Goesling, 2007), it was interesting to see that, on a local level at least for me, the digital divide seems to be doing both. While the overall number of households with income has grown on average, there are certain factors that are deepening the divide. The City of Seattle mentioned some upcoming projects, such as a Technology Matching Fund and public information campaigns (City of Seattle, 2018), which will be interesting to keep an eye on and see how they make a difference on the digital divide.
Resources:
City of Seattle. (2018). Technology access and adoption study. Retrieved from https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5756792-City-of-Seattle-IT-Technical-Report-v17b.h
tml
Firebaugh, G. & Goesling, B. (2007). Globalization and global inequalities. In G.Ritzer (Ed.), Blackwell companion to globalization (pp. 549-564) Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Hagar, C. (2019). Global divide [file format]. Retrieved from https://sjsu.zoom.us/recording/play/IY248___oSy453ZMD8FLS7zIm-FMmF-H5EzWAiaX-SVQn9UxxhY11LL0p3QMq_N7?continueMode=true
Hi Keiley,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post. When I think of the impact of globalization, I tend to look at it more in a bigger picture such as comparing nations or comparing the countries of North and South not within my own community. It was interesting to see that even on a smaller scale, the impact of globalization is similar to the big picture. However, I feel that if we focus on issues such as the digital divide within our own community, we may be able to make a better impact to lessen that divide.
Keiley,
ReplyDeleteI always has an idea that the U.S. had our own version of the digital divide but I never really gave it much thought. But since taking this class I find it interesting just how deep it really goes. Seattle is not exempt from it but I also just assumed it was those regions in the Midwest of the deep south of the US that were mostly affected by lack of access. I live in San Diego and my boyfriend is now in Mississippi on a long term business trip and we have a hard time communicating because the internet is so unreliable.
It is good to see the Seattle is addressing the problem with their upcoming projects.