The Internet as a Cause of ‘Rich Get Richer, Poor get Poorer’ Phenomenon in Europe
With the rise of the digital world, it has become increasingly easier for those with already high socioeconomic status to maintain and improve upon their status with resources such as the internet. This article highlights the fact that this is causing a gap between the wealthy and the poor in Europe. The digital age in Europe is predominantly dominated by those who were already privileged in terms of social, cultural, and economic capital.
Officials of the country strongly believe that they key to future economic growth and social development is to grab hold of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s) like the internet. But in pursuing this goal, they have created a wealth imbalance as a direct result of the digital imbalance, since the lesser-off citizens tend to not have access to digital technologies and are typically unable to capitalize on the advancement of technology to improve their economic status.
This is a clear example of the ‘rich get richer, poor get poorer’ phenomenon that we studied in class. The internet is a great way for those already successful to expand their level of success. For instance, a business owner may be able to reach a large population of people through YouTube and get more sales on their product in that way. Europe has the right idea: the use of the internet fosters the gain and spread of knowledge. But if only the wealthy inhabitants of the country have access to it, then only they will be able to benefit. A wealth gap was created, which, if continued, will place a dent in the hope to bring economic growth to the entire country.