Crises around the world always bring along opportunities. Every nation takes a different approach to deal with crises. Some nations overcome their shortcomings and the rest of the nations do not face the severity of crises and get in big troubles. COVID-19 pandemic is also an opportunity for nations to overcome their weaknesses.
We learnt many useful lessons during COVID-19. We learnt that we can work from home. It was taken as an impossible task before the pandemic. Workers from every field kept working from home. Second thing we learnt from the pandemic was we can teach through digital media. Governments used digital media to spread awareness and teach the masses about SOPs of COVID-19 whereas academic institutions used it to take online classes and examinations. When we were using digital media as a tool of education and awareness we faced some serious problems. Unavailability of internet was a big problem faced by the citizens worldwide during COVID-19. There was no internet is some regions and other faced poor connection problems. Unavailability of internet devices is another major hurdle faced by the citizens worldwide while dealing with the pandemic. Those who managed to get the internet and devices faced another problem of lack of skills to use different digital platforms like Zoom and Google meeting. As of January 2021, there were 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide – 59.5 percent of the global population. Of this total, 92.6 percent (4.32 billion) accessed the internet via mobile devices. Majority of the users are from developed countries. The problem of unavailability of internet became severe for developing countries during COVID-19.
Digital experts found a huge digital gap between developed and developing states. They also found a massive digital gap between the governments and citizens. This digital gap between government and masses is bigger in developing countries as compared to the developed countries. These digital gaps worldwide are known to everyone now after the COVID-19 experience. This is a great opportunity now for the governments and international forums to overcome internet shortcomings. Digital media relatively played a positive role in awareness of humans worldwide during coronavirus. It could play even better if there were enough internet connections worldwide. There are few important solutions that can be good to end digital gap in the world in post-pandemic era. Affordable internet services can reduce this digital gap in the world rapidly. Affordable internet device is another doable solution to reduce the massive digital gap. Access to digital trainings is an important step that should be taken by governments as it will enhance the digital capacity and capability of their people. Quality technical support to troubleshoot internet problems is a major step that can definitely increase the positive use of digital media. United Nations is working on availability of internet to every citizen worldwide but this process should be accelerated. Right to internet access or right of connectivity is a basic right of every human. COVID-19 exposed that how access to internet is a basic and important need of every human being worldwide. UN must impose upon governments to give affordable internet and internet devices to their citizens. More access to internet can give more freelance opportunities to youth worldwide that will reduce the financial pressure on governments.
–The writer is a freelance journalist.
He tweets @UmerInamPk