The digital divide: does it exist?

Are we leaving certain groups of citizens out of the discussion by turning to digital democracy movements? Pablo Soto, a citizen participation activist in Madrid, says that the whole question of a digital divide is the wrong one to be asking.

“The digital divide doesn’t exist,” he argued. “Voting by mail doesn’t create a postal democracy. It’s just an alternative channel go allow people to participate in democratic process.”

Fellow panelist Geza Tesseny agreed that digital methods of participation like e-voting “are just an enabler to participate, a tool” and don’t automatically create a divide.

However, 70-year-old Silvia asked the panel what they planned to do about educating herself and other non-digital natives for whom, she argued, a digital divide does exist. 

“As you know, our society is ageing,” she said. “For us, it is difficult.” 

Soto responded that the city of Madrid plans to take a similar approach to that question as to its recent issue of including homeless and unregistered citizens in its discussions: speak with people directly and find alternative ways to get them involved.