TOPIC: Digital access and literacy has become essential to life in the 21st century. But there increasingly exists a “digital divide,” an unequal access to technology, information, and resources. 35% of adults in the United States with household incomes below $35,000 do not use the internet, and 29% of lower-income Americans do not own a smartphone. Yet often support and help, financial aid, even banking, require digital access, computers, internet connections, forms to fill out that are only on line. Studies strongly suggest that when equitable conditions are achieved, digital engagement has the potential to foster improved sense of community belonging, social inclusion, and societal participation. How can faith communities and interfaith cooperation play a role?
