Does the global digital divide prove that the world is far from flat?

Okay, let's talk about this fascinating topic.

A "Flat" World? The Digital Divide Says Otherwise

Seeing this question, I suspect you might have read or heard about Thomas Friedman's famous book The World Is Flat. The idea is indeed captivating, painting an appealing picture: the internet and globalization enable the free flow of information, capital, and talent. Regardless of whether you're in New York, Shanghai, or a small town in India, as long as you have capability and creativity, you can compete on the same playing field.

However, the existence of the "digital divide" is like someone chiseling deep, bottomless ravines across this ostensibly "flat" arena. So, to answer your question, my view is clear:

The issue of the global digital divide is precisely the most powerful and visceral evidence that the world is far from flat.

Why do I say this? Let's break it down layer by layer.

1. What Do We Mean By "Digital Divide"? It's More Than Just "Having Internet"

Many people think the digital divide simply means "you have internet at home, I don't." That's just the surface layer. The contemporary digital divide encompasses at least three distinct levels, like progressively harder levels in a game:

Level One: The Access Divide This is the most fundamental layer. It's about whether you can get connected, how fast your connection is, the quality of your device, and whether you can afford it. Picture yourself in a city with gigabit fiber optics, gaming and streaming 4K videos effortlessly. Meanwhile, in some remote mountainous areas or poorer nations, people might be struggling with intermittent 2G signals, waiting ages just to load a webpage. How can their "world" possibly be "flat" like yours? It's like globalization is a giant marketplace you drive to via a high-speed expressway in a sports car, while others must navigate muddy paths, or have no path at all.
Level Two: The Skills Divide Okay, suppose now everyone has decent internet and devices. The next question is: Can you use them effectively? A highly educated professional can leverage the internet to learn new skills, handle complex work, and manage investments. In contrast, someone lacking digital skills might, at best, only scroll through short videos or chat on WeChat. Both hold smartphones, but one uses it to create value, the other to pass the time. This disparity in "utilization capabilities" creates inequalities in opportunity that are far more alarming than mere lack of access.
Level Three: The Thinking/Opportunity Divide This is the deepest layer. When someone is constantly immersed in a high-quality digital environment, they naturally develop a digital-first mindset for thinking and solving problems. They have access to cutting-edge ideas and abundant opportunities. For instance, they know to upskill via online courses, sell goods globally using e-commerce platforms, or boost efficiency with AI tools. On the other hand, those consistently excluded from these environments have their perspectives, ways of thinking, and access to opportunities severely limited. This leads to a "Matthew Effect": the strong grow stronger, while the weak grow weaker.

2. How Does the Digital Divide Make the "World" More "Uneven"?

The core thesis of "The World is Flat" theory is "equal opportunity." Yet, the digital divide ruthlessly shatters this very possibility.

Widened Educational Inequality: The pandemic made this starkly clear. Children in cities could seamlessly switch to online education with live lessons from renowned teachers. But children in impoverished regions? Many lacked even a suitable device, or their home internet couldn't handle it. Education, meant to be a bridge narrowing gaps, became yet another chasm widening disparities due to the digital divide.
Economic "Winner-Takes-All": In the digital economy, wealth and opportunities increasingly concentrate towards leading corporations and individuals who control digital technology and information. The world inhabited by a Silicon Valley programmer versus an African farmer cannot possibly be called "flat." The former can leverage global resources; the latter may lack access to even basic financial services like mobile banking.
Fragmented Social Participation: Much essential public service information and civic engagement now occur online. Making appointments, accessing health passes (like health codes), or understanding policies often require a smartphone. The elderly unfamiliar with smart devices, or marginalized groups without internet access, are effectively excluded from participating in modern society.

Conclusion: The World Isn't Flat; It's Folded

Therefore, overall, "The World is Flat" is more like a beautiful ideal and trend. It describes the potential that technology offers us.

But the "digital divide" reveals the stark reality. This reality is that the ground beneath our feet isn't flat; instead, it's folded and uneven. Some stand tall on towering peaks, enjoying all the dividends of globalization and digitization, while countless others remain trapped in deep valleys, their view of the sky reduced to a small, distant patch.

Bridging the digital divide requires far more than just laying cables or giving away phones. It demands global efforts, including infrastructure development, digital literacy programs, and cost reductions. Only when everyone, irrespective of wealth, location, or age, can access equally, use effectively, and benefit meaningfully from digital technologies, can we confidently say the world is taking solid steps towards becoming truly "flat."