Digital Divide and Violence: Psychology’s lightning Bolt

Abstract

The text analyzes the digital divide as a phenomenon that goes beyond the lack of access to technology, addressing it as a form of structural and symbolic violence that perpetuates social, economic, and cognitive inequalities. It introduces concepts such as the cognitive divide, which involves the lack of skills to critically participate in the digital world, and emphasizes the role of psychology in understanding and mitigating its emotional, educational, and social effects. Digital exclusion can lead to anxiety, isolation, and low self-esteem, especially among vulnerable populations such as older adults or people without digital training. The text also warns about the risks of excessive technology use, such as digital fatigue, and revisits the distinction between digital natives and digital immigrants to explore generational and cognitive gaps. Finally, it proposes a comprehensive approach in which psychology, from various fields (educational, critical, aging-related, etcetera), contributes to building a more equitable and just knowledge society.