Topical Seminar on New Digital Inequalities
10.11.2022
The first topical seminar in the fall semester was held on November 8, themed around digital poverty, and theoretical understanding of digital and epistemic inequalities. The event featured talks by the researcher on digital divide, Co-Chair of IAMCR Digital Divide Working Group, Associate Professor in Media and Communication at Northumbria University (UK), Dr. Massimo Ragnedda and Leading Researcher at the Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia), Co-Chair of IAMCR Digital Divide Working Group, and IAMCR Ambassador in Russia, Dr. Anna Gladkova.
Dr. Ragnedda talked about the link between digital poverty and social inequalities in the UK during the pandemic, and Dr. Gladkova focused on the understanding of digital divide as a threat to epistemic rights. The discussion was moderated by Associate Professor in Mass Communication Sociology at the Faculty of Journalism, Dr. Maria Anikina.
Dr. Massimo Ragnedda gave a talk on Living on the edge of the digital poverty, where he highlighted social inequalities resulting from the digital divide. The scholar presented the preliminary results of his study into digital divide in the UK, reinforced by the transition to distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey among 2000 parents of school-age children showed that 36% of children preferred spending time with technologies rather than doing physical activities, 27% received support from their school, 15% got worse results at school compared to pre-pandemic times. The researcher presented digital poverty index developed by his research group drawing from five determinants of digital poverty: access to technologies, availability of devices and connectivity, user motivation, digital skills, as well as support in mastering those.
Dr. Anna Gladkova gave a presentation titled ‘From digital divides to epistemic divides: The rise of new inequalities’, which investigates theoretical approaches towards digital divide studies. The researcher talked about how three levels of digital divide are linked to epistemic inequalities – a gap in information, knowledge, and mutual understanding of social groups. The scholar noted that digital capital may contribute to overcoming both digital and epistemic divides by increasing the ability to access, interpret, and use information. Digital capital is viewed as a separate type of capital, which is becoming fundamental for successful professional and personal practices. To conclude, Dr. Gladkova suggested a comprehensive approach towards studying digital divide, which encompasses digital capital, digital and epistemic rights, digital and social inclusion.
The first topical seminar in the fall semester was held on November 8, themed around digital poverty, and theoretical understanding of digital and epistemic inequalities. The event featured talks by the researcher on digital divide, Co-Chair of IAMCR Digital Divide Working Group, Associate Professor in Media and Communication at Northumbria University (UK), Dr. Massimo Ragnedda and Leading Researcher at the Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia), Co-Chair of IAMCR Digital Divide Working Group, and IAMCR Ambassador in Russia, Dr. Anna Gladkova. Dr. Ragnedda talked about the link between digital poverty and social inequalities in the UK during the pandemic, and Dr. Gladkova focused on the understanding of digital divide as a threat to epistemic rights. The discussion was moderated by Associate Professor in Mass Communication Sociology at the Faculty of Journalism, Dr. Maria Anikina.
Dr. Massimo Ragnedda gave a talk on Living on the edge of the digital poverty, where he highlighted social inequalities resulting from the digital divide. The scholar presented the preliminary results of his study into digital divide in the UK, reinforced by the transition to distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey among 2000 parents of school-age children showed that 36% of children preferred spending time with technologies rather than doing physical activities, 27% received support from their school, 15% got worse results at school compared to pre-pandemic times. The researcher presented digital poverty index developed by his research group drawing from five determinants of digital poverty: access to technologies, availability of devices and connectivity, user motivation, digital skills, as well as support in mastering those.
Dr. Anna Gladkova gave a presentation titled ‘From digital divides to epistemic divides: The rise of new inequalities’, which investigates theoretical approaches towards digital divide studies. The researcher talked about how three levels of digital divide are linked to epistemic inequalities – a gap in information, knowledge, and mutual understanding of social groups. The scholar noted that digital capital may contribute to overcoming both digital and epistemic divides by increasing the ability to access, interpret, and use information. Digital capital is viewed as a separate type of capital, which is becoming fundamental for successful professional and personal practices. To conclude, Dr. Gladkova suggested a comprehensive approach towards studying digital divide, which encompasses digital capital, digital and epistemic rights, digital and social inclusion.