Pandemic deepens digital divide even further

Despite 5,203 municipalities and 98% of the population with 4G network coverage, the difference in internet access between regions and social groups is still marked and was aggravated by the pandemic. Isolation measures limited the reach to education, work, and even emergency relief. The mismatch also compromises the competitiveness required in the data-driven world, exacerbating the shortage in talent.

The scenario reinforces the intergenerational reproduction of inequality, a phenomenon proven by the Institute for Mobility and Social Development (IMDS), says research director Sérgio Guimarães. For 2022, he recommends actions for integral education, with diagnosis of students and off-shifts, and face-to-face or remote classes with technological support. But this requires preparation of schools and teachers.