Digital Inclusion for All

Shaping our Digital Future

Digital technologies – the internet, mobile phones, and all the other tools to collect, store, analyze, and share information digitally – have spread rapidly in much of the world. Many of us depend on them to work, to educate the young, and reach out to our friends and family. These technologies have enabled digital public services, digital payments, online learning, telehealth, online shopping and more. However, about half the world's people access and use the Internet, the other half do not. Millions of people cannot work or go to school remotely or access technology and its benefits. Many of the unconnected live in least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states, and within countries in rural and remote areas or urban impoverished areas.

Digital divide still persists between more and less connected countries, communities, and people. Enabling all the world's people to access and use digital technologies (the Internet including mobile technologies) – and closing digital divides – remains a challenge that needs to be addressed if the world community is to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Adapted from: https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/02/Draft-DigitalInclusion4All-OnlineGlobalForum2021-12Feb.pdf