Calderón-Gómez, D., Ragnedda, M., & Ruiu, M. L. (2025). Locked among inequalities: A study of children’s digital experiences and digital divide during the COVID-19 pandemic. New Media & Society, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448251321779
The COVID-19 pandemic transformed children’s relationship with digital technologies, but not all children benefited equally. A recent study by Calderón-Gómez, Ragnedda, and Ruiu (2025) provides a detailed analysis of how digital inequalities manifested during the lockdown, reinforcing pre-existing socioeconomic disparities.
Key Insights from the Study
📌 Digital Inequality Is More Than Just Access
While access to the internet remains a fundamental issue, the study underscores that inequalities extend to how children engage with digital technologies and what benefits they derive from them.
📌 Socioeconomic Status Shapes Digital Experiences
Children from wealthier families had smoother digital experiences, including better internet connectivity and access to digital devices. Meanwhile, lower-income households struggled with affordability, exacerbating educational disadvantages.
📌 Parental Digital Skills Matter
Parents with high digital literacy were better equipped to support their children’s education, whereas families with lower digital skills faced greater challenges in adapting to online learning environments.
📌 The Paradox of Hyperconnectivity
More screen time did not necessarily lead to better outcomes. Excessive digital engagement was linked to academic decline, social isolation, and problematic internet use, particularly among older children.
A Call for Action
This study highlights the need for policies that go beyond providing internet access. Governments and institutions must invest in digital literacy programs, educational support for disadvantaged families, and policies that ensure equitable access to the social benefits of technology.
As we move forward, addressing these inequalities is crucial to preventing the digital divide from further entrenching broader societal disparities.
📖 Read the full study: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14614448251321779
#DigitalDivide #EducationInequality #TechForGood #COVID19 #DigitalLiteracy
Объявления
The pandemic indeed showed the huge gap in digital access among children. It’s alarming how socioeconomic factors play such a big role in determining who gets to benefit from technology. We need immediate interventions to bridge this widening digital divide. Education and digital literacy should be prioritized moving forward. What steps can we take to make digital resources more accessible to all children?