Reader Response Draft 2

                       In a Euromonitor blog post entitled “Global Digital Divide Persists but Is Narrowing” (2011), it is asserted that the gap in internet accessibility between developed and developing countries is getting smaller. Even though consumers in developed countries have a greater access to internet connection than those in developing countries, the number of consumers with access to internet in the latter is increasing over the past few years. This blog post has also noted that internet usage and access have significant implications on the internet users in both developing and developed countries.

                 The blog post firstly, puts forth several positive impacts that arise from increased internet accessibility. Secondly, the blog post also asserts how the narrowing global divide has led to social and cultural globalisation.  And lastly, the author also asserted that the developing countries’ projected growth in digital connectivity will be faster than developed countries, which I feel is subjected to the  growth of the individual developing countries. I feel that in order for the developing countries to fully enjoy the benefits of the narrowing global divide, the developing countries have to open to changes such as having increased internet accessibility and prepare its citizens adequately to adapt to the changes.

                Firstly, I agree with the assertion made in the blog post that there are various positive impacts such as social  and economic on the consumers due to increased internet accessibility as stated in the article “Email and Internet access, especially through social media, allows people to communicate in new ways” (Euromonitor International, 2011). This is particularly true in my case. Gone were the days where telephone was the only mode of communication, today with the invention of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp we are ever more connected.  I still remember back in my primary and secondary school days, project meetings were hard to change.  This was because we had to communicate with one another rather than communicate as group but today the situation is quite different as groups can be easily created on Whataspp and communication is made much easier. Such inventions in social media have to be attributed to increased internet accessibility.

               Secondly, another point made in the article is that, the narrowing digital divide has “arguably added to a social and cultural globalization with consumers all over the world able to access a wider choice of things like music, entertainment, brands and products” (Euromonitor International, 2011). Again I find myself nodding to this statement as today almost everything is done online from signing up for credit cards to buying clothes. Five years ago , if someone asked me, if I shopped online my answer will be a “no” as I preferred going down to the shops to get them , but today due to the hectic lifestyles we are leading I prefer buying them online. Indeed I will agree that the narrowing digital divide has resulted in a “cultural and social globalization”.

               Lastly, the article mentions that “The availability of information on the Internet provides a major learning resource for consumers, both in terms of awareness of current affairs but also for training and remote learning. This could help reduce the divide in education and literacy levels between developed and developing regions as well as helping to narrow rural and urban divides” (Euromonitor International, 2011). I agree with the above claim as I believe there is a vast amount of information available on the internet for us to use. With a click of a few buttons we can be connected to possibly any part of the world and be aware of what is happening there at any point. 

                    

                 However, I do not agree fully with the above claim made about the with vast amount of information available on the internet increases consumer’s awareness to a point, that it could help reduce the divide in education and literacy rates between developing and developed as not everyone can use what’s on the internet wisely or rather know how to use it to their advantage. So this is the part where I disagree with the author assertion that developing countries’ projected growth in digital connectivity will be faster than developed countries as it really depends on how these countries respond to changes. For a developing country like China which is expected to have the world’s biggest number of broadband users by the year 2020” (Euromonitor International, 2011)  doesn’t guarantee all of china’s citizens will be more internet savvy which will make China more digitally interconnected.

                In conclusion , some of the ideas brought out in the article, made me think further on how the narrowing global divide is of advantage to everyone living in both developed and developing countries but more so for those in developing countries.  However, I feel that the benefits of narrowing global divide will vary across countries as it is dependent on each country’s own development and growth.

Bibliography

Euromonitor International (2011, Feb 11). Global digital divide persists but is narrowing. Retrieved September 04, 2014, from http://blog.euromonitor.com/2011/02/global-digital-divide-persists-but-is-narrowing-1.html