Too many young are excluded from the web
On the world wide web´s 32nd birthday, its founder Tim Berners-Lee published an open letter arguing that too many young people are excluded from accessing the web. To reimagine our world and to create something better after the pandemic must be channeled to getting internet access to the third of people aged between 15 and 24 who are offline, he argues.
“The influence of young people is felt across their communities and online networks. But today we’re seeing just a fraction of what’s possible. Because while we talk about a generation of ‘digital natives’, far too many young people remain excluded and unable to use the web to share their talents and ideas.
“A third of young people have no internet access at all. Many more lack the data, devices and reliable connection they need to make the most of the web. In fact, only the top third of under-25s have a home internet connection, according to Unicef, leaving 2.2 billion young people without the stable access they need to learn online, which has helped so many others continue their education during the pandemic.”
”Every young person who can’t connect represents a lost opportunity for new ideas and innovations that could serve humanity.”
”As we did with electricity last century, we must recognise internet access as a basic right and we must work to make sure all young people can connect to a web that gives them the power to shape their world.”
And concerning cost he says “The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), an initiative of the Web Foundation, has calculated that USD 428 billion of additional investment over ten years would provide everyone a quality broadband connection. To put this in perspective, that amounts to the equivalent of just $116 per person for the 3.7 billion people who remain offline today.
Moonshot News is an independent European news website for all IT, Media and Advertising professionals, powered by women and with a focus on driving the narrative for diversity, inclusion and gender equality in the industry.
Our mission is to provide top and unbiased information for all professionals and to make sure that women get their fair share of voice in the news and in the spotlight!
We produce original content, news articles, a curated calendar of industry events and a database of women IT, Media and Advertising associations.
