This week, I had the opportunity to debate the topic: Has technology led to a more equitable society? I didn’t feel particularly strong about either side at first, so being assigned the remaining position turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it pushed me to dig deep, do my research, and build a solid case from the ground up.
At first glance, I instinctively thought, Of course it has! Technology has made huge strides over the years, and many of those changes have been for the better. There are countless apps, tools, and platforms available to support people in every area of life, especially in education. Students now have access to apps for nearly anything they want to learn or do.
One point the pro side made was that technology acts as a gateway, even if access isn’t equal, really stuck with me. It’s true that not everyone has the same access, but having some access is still better than none. They also argued that comparing access across divisions, cultures, or rural and urban settings doesn’t always make sense because those differences are already built in. I appreciated their perspective, especially their point about how technology allows for global collaboration across cultures and communities, which was supported by the following article.
That said, I do think there are certain comparisons that should be made, like urban to urban or rural to rural. Communities in similar settings should have similar levels of access, but that’s not always the case. Indigenous communities, for example, often still face significant digital barriers. The article from the Assembly of First Nations highlights how many communities lack the basic infrastructure for high-speed internet. It’s frustrating to see such a deep digital divide still exist within our own country. Jill’s video further emphasized this reality and showed just how many people are still being left behind.
Photo by flutie8211 on Pixabay
So, while I agree that technology has made society more equitable in certain ways, there’s still a long way to go. Personally, I find myself leaning more toward the disagree side mainly because so many groups continue to be overlooked in this digital transformation.
Kudos to the pro side for presenting such thoughtful arguments and challenging my thinking throughout the debate!
Thanks, Danielle for being such a great partner!!!!!! I was really happy to dig into the research with you. I feel like we both did some incredible searching and had a lot of thoughtful debate between ourselves before we could even put together a case to present to the class…. You were a rock star partner and I had a lot of fun working with you. In the end, I still do not think technology is good and equitable for society overall. There are definitely some advancements and good uses, as we had touched on. However, like we researched the digital divide is still so large, and it worries me that marginalized communities are being left behind while privileged ones continue to move forward. Have a great summer!!!!!!! 😊
Hi Danielle,
Thanks for your honest thoughts and for your great debate this week! I agree that, although strides have been made, there is still a lot of work to do. This is especially true in Canadian Indigenous communities. It angers me that many communities are lacking many types of Basic Infrastructure. In Canada, I believe the issue is an economic one. I think tech companies need to start participating in creating solutions for our country and supporting all Canadians.
Thanks again for a great debate and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your summer!
Hi Danielle,
Great debate this week!
I completely agree with you how frustrating it is to still see such a deep digital divide within our own country. The examples you shared about Indigenous communities lacking basic infrastructure are powerful reminders that we can’t claim equity if entire groups are being left behind. Furthermore, the fact that we have some of the most expensive cellular data packages in the world was mind blowing to me. I have so many questions as to why??
The pro side comment about how technology can act as a gateway, resonated with me as well. While access to some technology is better than none, it does not address the issues of inequity within our communities.
Technology is not the villain in this issue. The real challenge lies in how we allocate resources and implement digital tools in ways that truly serve all communities. While progress has been made, significant gaps remain.
Thank you again for sharing your insights!
Thank you for sharing your honest reflection! I really appreciate how you explored both sides of the debate with an open mind. Your point about Indigenous communities and unequal access is so important. You made a strong case for why we must keep pushing for true digital equity. Well said!
Hi Danielle,
Thank you for your valuable contributions to this debate. Both you and Jill presented some great arguments. I especially appreciated the discussion regarding equity and equality. The points you both presented on this topic are so important. There are many benefits of technology that may support learning and other areas of life. However, as mentioned in the debate, this is a complex issue with multiple perspectives to consider. It is evident that individuals who are already in disadvantaged positions within society tend to experience more adverse effects. I share your concern regarding the persistent digital divide, which remains a significant challenge.
Jenna