The Positive Impacts of Digital Connectivity
- Instituto Repartir
- Aug 31, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 2, 2025
How the Democratization of Internet Access Shapes a More Inclusive Future for Youth
By Laura Fernandes
I am a young Black woman from São Gonçalo dos Campos, in the countryside of Bahia, from a lower-middle-class family. Attending university to change my social reality has always been a dream – and a great challenge, considering that in Brazil only 18% of Black youth between 18 and 24 are in Higher Education (IPEA, 2020). Six out of ten Black youth do not even finish High School (Todos pela Educação and IBGE, 2012-2022). Among the many obstacles lies digital exclusion.
A study conducted by PwC and Instituto Locomotiva on the Digital Divide in Brazil shows that only 20% of the Brazilian population has guaranteed access to a stable and fast connection. While access remains unequal, it is projected that, globally, the share of new professions tied to digitalization will nearly double in a short period of time (Future of Jobs Report, 2020).
Digital inclusion has many meanings in my life. It means I was able to study during the pandemic, while many classmates were left behind. It means being able to carry out essential daily activities such as searching for information and conducting research. It means the opportunity to work remotely. But I know I am the exception to the rule. Change must be structural and for everyone. And it is urgent!
Beyond individual effort, a joint and coordinated actionz
According to the Online Deprivation Index, featured in the study on the Digital Divide in Brazil, I am part of the group called the Subconnected, composed of 41.8 million Brazilians. These are mostly Black people, from the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, from classes C and D, and with lower levels of schooling. They face deficient access structures; lack adequate equipment such as computers; and lack financial resources to afford faster internet plans.
Five years ago, my family and I used an internet connection tied to our landline, which provided only 1 megabit. It allowed us to browse websites, social media, and email. In 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic, there arose a need for broadband with greater efficiency so I could continue my studies. It was a significant financial effort for my family to meet this demand. Even so, the connection still had some instability.
But not all families can individually change this reality. They will remain in the statistics of exclusion.
If strengthening education and the job market depends on digital connectivity, and if we want this access to be broad and democratic, addressing a structural issue, then I believe the solution lies in the articulation of different actors: government, companies, and society as a whole – a path clearly identified by PwC and the World Economic Forum in the study Digital Divide in Brazil. A joint effort is necessary so that my story of inclusion can also become the story of many other young people across the country.
Digital access for educational and professional inclusion
During the pandemic, accessing online educational platforms – virtual classrooms and videoconferencing – became a reality. After six months of suspended classes, the Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia (UFRB), where I study, resumed classes in a remote and experimental format. With a faster connection, I was able to keep up with classes. At that moment, however, significant disparities in digital access were revealed, and many students dropped the courses they were taking.
My digital inclusion has also expanded my access to the job market, opening doors to new economic and professional opportunities that once seemed out of reach. In addition to taking many online courses, I worked as an intern at Instituto Repartir, an organization based in São Paulo. With internet access, I can break geographical barriers, allowing my work – from the countryside of Bahia – to reach different parts of Brazil.
This opportunity has not only broadened my career prospects but also allowed me to achieve greater financial stability and independence.
Finally, digital inclusion goes beyond the technological aspect and touches on the issue of empowerment. It provides me with the opportunity not only to learn, grow, and thrive but also to contribute to building a better world. Shall we build it together?
