Digital technologies as a tool for social inclusion

• Grant number: 22/09258-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: November 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Welfare Services
• Principal Investigator: Regina Célia de Souza Beretta
• Grantee: João Pedro Beretta Bueno
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the face of intense cultural, social and economic changes, knowledge and access to digital technologies can prove to be an essential condition for digital inclusion, an extremely important resource to promote the social inclusion of more vulnerable groups in contemporary society. Since the 20th century, digital technologies have revolutionized the production of knowledge and information with impacts on the economic-financial, social, personal or health spheres. The Digital Technologies ofInformation and Communication refer to the dissemination of information through digital media. Examples of digital technologies are computers, tablets, smartphones, cell phones, digital whiteboards, TV's, data show devices, among others. Connectivity has become the new need of the contemporary world, while digital deprivationis called digital apartheid, which tends to increase inequality between the poor and the rich, reaffirming social injustices. Regarding internet access, Brazil has 47 million non-users (26%) and 134 million internet users (74%). The cell phone is the device most used by people (99%) and 58% ofindividuals access the internet only by cell phone. It should be noted that currently 20 million households, corresponding to a percentage of 28%, do not have internet access in Brazil. After all, who has the domain of digital technologies today? How can mastering technologies support social inclusion? What skills can be acquired with access to digital technologies? Is access to digital technologies a right? What public policies are needed to expanddigital/social inclusion? The methodology proposed to answer these questions is based on a dialectical, qualitative perspective, with a bibliographic and documentary survey, in order to identify successful research and experience that prove how the use of digital technologies helps in the process of social inclusion.