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ONLINERS and OFFLINERS in a World of Digitalization


Digitalization is spreading throughout our society, dividing people into ONLINERS (those who are digitally active online) and OFFLINERS (those who are refusing digitalization and hence offline). ONLINERS have embraced digital technologies across all major societal and personal activities, using PCs, notebooks, or smartphones. They engage with a wide range of social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter, to name a few. They search and comment on hashtags, tweet, share, and communicate freely, avoiding mailing costs, ordering eyeglasses and medicine online, taking advantage of the best shopping deals, and regularly comparing car insurance, train and flight tickets, as well as cell phone and energy providers over the Internet. Millions of ONLINERS have mastered digitalization, earning money through advertisements and saving hundreds of euros or dollars each month simply by maximizing the opportunities the web offers.

Not so with the OFFLINERS. Many lack the knowledge or ability to navigate the digital landscape. In fact, a significant number of them are likely older, without support, and not skilled enough to manage digitalization in the way ONLINERS do.

Digitalization in our society brings both new challenges and opportunities, but it does not offer equal advantages to everyone. If it is not simplified and supported adequately, those who are offline may suffer the most from digitalization. They are likely to bear the brunt of its impacts. The divide between those who are online and those who are not appears to be widening each day.


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