Rethinking the Gap: Digital Preparedness and Social Inclusion of Young Generations in Remote Area to Lessen Digital Inequality

Communication Studies Program, Faculty of Communication Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, West Java, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: nindi@unpad.ac.id

Abstract

The development of information and communication technologies (ICT) has changed many aspects of our lives around the world. ICT has played crucial roles in connecting people and places across regions and countries, also it helps global development more equally. It holds enormous promise for the future. In developed country like Indonesia the use of the digital advance to provide opportunities in economic and societal growth are vary, more chances in urban area than in remote area which is creating digital inequality. The young generations in Bengkulu province is having inequality of accessing and using the ICT, but the real problem is do they have the foundation to accept the ICT and does the social environment support for the changes? Case study method applied to understand the digital readiness of the young generations particularly the middle high school students and further to explore the social background as a way to minimizing the gap of digital inequality. Digital skills, trust, and use are the elements to measure the digital readiness. The result shows 1) the digital skills among the informants are still in basic level; 2) they depend on statement from friends and family in terms of trustworthiness; 3) they use the digital access mostly to chatting and watching YouTube. More affordable smartphone means more chance for the young generations to access the digital world but the social environment around them doesn’t support evenly.