I know I'm supposed to have a solid opinion on this, but what if I admit that I do not? I grew up in a time when the internet was not in every home and it was a luxury item. I know how much we pay for it and have over the years and it isn't cheap. I have often wondered how people with little money could be on Facebook complaining about how little money they had.
I suppose there is a digital divide - especially now that libraries are not open everywhere. Here in Los Angeles County, our school administration has made sure every child has a device and connection to the internet. I know they aren't doing this all over the country and that's sad. I believe that if schools are going to be distance learning, the districts need to make sure all children have a device and internet connection.
I do not believe that the internet is a right everyone should have. I have family members with no interest in having the internet. I'm from a small town and my father doesn't even have internet or a device to connect to the internet if he had it.
See? I am all over the place on this issue. I guess I could summarize that if schools are going to require it, the districts should pay it as a part of the expense per child. If it is for adults and just something they may find useful, I know many with the same income who either choose to use their money for the internet or do not. I do not think they should just have the internet just because other people do.
Is there a "divide"? In some cases, sure. In others, it's a choice.
2nd students discussion
What exactly does having access mean? Having access doesn't change things for some people. For example; my Grandmother. She has access. She chooses not to use it. Just because one has access does not mean that it will be used. My Grandmother still mails cards and sends checks. She believes it's a more trusted system. If families lived closer to each other would we even need social media to post pictures of our family or experiences? If we still made phone calls would we even need text messages? Even though my Grandmother has access I don't believe she NEEDS it. She still reads a newspaper and watches her local news programs. I think that for a lot of people there are still other ways to access information that they need to live their daily lives.
I believe if ones daily life requires access; then yes, one has to figure out a way to acquire access. Our country has public libraries. They are free and provide access to computers/printers and internet access. Public libraries are in most cities, even very rural cities. Libraries also have people which can help teach someone how to use a computer and how to access the internet at no charge to the person who requires assistance. Sometimes, however, it's not the access itself that is the problem, it's logistics. How can people actually get to a library? Public transportation is not always an viable option because it's not available where they live. I think that the logistical problem is a much more difficult, if not impossible, problem to solve.