Comments on: Digital inclusion and social capital http://www.timdavies.org.uk/2009/05/20/digital-inclusion-and-social-capital/ working for social change; thinking about the details Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:31:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bbrayshay http://www.timdavies.org.uk/2009/05/20/digital-inclusion-and-social-capital/comment-page-1/#comment-53174 bbrayshay Wed, 20 May 2009 10:22:50 +0000 http://www.timdavies.org.uk/?p=2417#comment-53174 There is a myth that “all young people are digital natives” and that they are all nimbly clicking between myspace, flikre, youtube and twitter - busy accessing social networking tools and in the process creating social capital. Access to a computer and the internet is so limited in many poor communities that it is not even on radar for most people – the “otherness” of the public library for instance is a cultural rather than a physical barrier. People will only engage when they can see demonstrable positive benefits that are directly linked to their own lives, hopes and aspirations – and that they are able to explore in spaces that are part of their world – the virtuous circle can be enabled – its all about locating the experience in something truly meaningful – that might initially be miles apart from the preoccupations of the vibrant middle class neighbourhood. There is a myth that “all young people are digital natives” and that they are all nimbly clicking between myspace, flikre, youtube and twitter – busy accessing social networking tools and in the process creating social capital. Access to a computer and the internet is so limited in many poor communities that it is not even on radar for most people – the “otherness” of the public library for instance is a cultural rather than a physical barrier.

People will only engage when they can see demonstrable positive benefits that are directly linked to their own lives, hopes and aspirations – and that they are able to explore in spaces that are part of their world – the virtuous circle can be enabled – its all about locating the experience in something truly meaningful – that might initially be miles apart from the preoccupations of the vibrant middle class neighbourhood.

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